But the "Pharaohs" finish second behind Nigeria, who beat Guinea Bissau (1-0) and are preparing a potential round of 16 clash against the group winner, which could be Côte d'Ivoire.
Salah did not score, the Egyptian goal is signed Mohamed Elsayed (35th), but the captain remained the star of the match, acclaimed by the great crowd at the Ahidjo stadium even when he left for a corner (71st)!
The public purred with pleasure at every action of the Liverpool star, when he missed a small-bridge pass in one breath (18th) or when he set fire to the defense on his dribbles, causing a beautiful parade of Mohamed Mustafa (60th).
Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah faces Sudanese defenders Mustafa Karshom (g) and Mazin Mohamedein Alnour Mohamed, during their group C match of the African Cup of Nations, January 19, 2022 in Yaoundé Kenzo Tribouillard AFP
After the empty stadiums of the first days of competition, the Cameroonian authorities released civil servants and students for all the afternoons of the AFCON and the police generously "opened" the gates, the stadium filling up in the course of match.
The Sudanese last stand also thrilled the crowd.
But the "Crocodiles" only came out of the water in the last quarter of an hour.
They weren't strong enough to worry their rivals in this "Nile derby".
Only thrill, a free kick boxed by goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy (81st).
Salah's teammates only scored once, with a header from Elsayed, left too free on a corner by the "Falcons of Jediane", the other nickname of the Sudanese selection.
Mustafa, the goalkeeper of El Merreikh, was perhaps not completely recovered from his impact with his head against the post on the stoppage causing the corner (32nd).
He can console himself by telling himself that Salah did not score a goal for him.
© 2022 AFP