Salah breaks Drogba’s record, becomes Africa’s highest scorer in UEFA Champions League

Egypt’s Mohamed Salah on Wednesday night surpassed Ivory Coast and Chelsea legend Didier Drogba’s record for the most goals scored in the UEFA Champions League by an African player.

This came in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Bologna at Anfield in their second UEFA Champions League match of the season.

After just 11 minutes of play, Alexis Mac Allister of Argentina opened the score.

In the 75th minute, Salah scored the second goal, making history for himself.

With his 45th goal in 81 UEFA Champions League games, Salah has now scored more goals than any other African player in the competition, ahead of Drogba in second place with 44 goals in 92 games and Samuel Eto’o in third with 30 goals in 78 games.

The match against Bologna was Salah’s sixth consecutive home game in the UEFA Champions League where he either scored or provided an assist.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot was not the least bit surprised by the superb performance of Salah.

“Before [last week’s League Cup win over West Ham United], Mo played three games without scoring a goal. So it is in football, it can happen that sometimes in three games, you score one or you don’t score,” Slot said, in an interview monitored by Diaspora Digital Media.

“But these players, like Mo, they will always score their goals if you just keep playing them.

“Mo has done really well today and I’m happy with the way he does at the moment….. And I’m not looking forward to next season,” Slot said.

The Mo Salah Career File 

Born on June 15, 1992, in Nagrig, Egypt, Salah’s journey to stardom began in his hometown.

He joined El Mokawloon SC’s youth academy at age 10 and quickly rose through the ranks.

Salah’s professional debut came in 2010, and his impressive performances earned him a move to Swiss club Basel in 2012.

At Basel, Salah’s pace, skill, and goalscoring ability caught the attention of European giants.

In 2014, Chelsea FC signed him, but opportunities were limited.

Loans to Fiorentina and Roma followed, where Salah rediscovered his form. His success in Italy led to a permanent transfer to Roma in 2015.

Salah’s two seasons in Rome yielded 34 goals and 24 assists, making him a sought-after player.

In 2017, Liverpool FC signed Salah for a then-club-record fee. The Egyptian’s impact was immediate.

He scored 44 goals in his debut season, breaking numerous records and earning the Premier League Golden Boot.

Salah’s success continued, helping Liverpool win the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup.

On the international stage, Salah has been instrumental for Egypt.

He represented the Pharaohs at the 2012 Olympics and helped the team reach the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations final.

Salah’s 47 international goals make him Egypt’s all-time leading scorer. His pace and skill have earned him the nickname “The Egyptian King.”

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook