Mohamed Salah continued his goal-scoring spree from Liverpool to Cairo, striking four times in Egypt’s 6-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Djibouti on Thursday.

Salah scored five goals in the opening thirty minutes of the Cairo International Stadium match. He completed the game with the addition of the fourth.

It was Egypt’s inaugural encounter in the expanded 2026 World Cup African qualifying round. The seven-time African Cup champions were unable to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Qatar subsequent to their participation in the Russia tournament.

Salah has amassed 12 goals in all competitions for Liverpool, including two in the club’s 3-0 Premier League victory over Brentford. Salah has scored in each of Liverpool’s first six home games of a league season, a record-setting feat.

Trézéguet and Mostafa Mohammed tallied the remaining goals for the Pharaohs.

In additional matches, Lesotho held Nigeria to a 1-1 draw at home, Algeria held Somalia to a 3-1 draw, Burundi defeated Gambia by a 3-2 margin, Mozambique defeated Botswana 3-2, Gabon triumphed over Kenya 2-1, and Sudan held Togo to a 1-1 draw.

Direct qualification for the 48-team World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada will be granted to nine African teams. It is possible for a tenth team to qualify for the semifinals.

Unexpectedly, the Nigerians were held scoreless by one of the smallest countries on the continent. At Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, the home team dominated the majority of the possession, but Lesotho took the lead early in the second half through a powerful header from defender Motlomelo Mkhawanazi, who rose unmarked to give the Crocodiles the advantage.

Another unrestricted header was scored by Bayer Leverkusen forward Victor Boniface in response to a cross by Kelechi Iheanacho.

Lesotho is not even qualified to compete in the World Cup, much less the African Cup of Nations.