Source: Alamy Stock Photo

Hard-Fought Victory for Egypt Over Zimbabwe

The Egyptian national team began their Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Morocco with a valuable victory, coming from behind to secure a deserved 2–1 win over Zimbabwe in a match full of tactical details and early lessons for the “Pharaohs” at the start of their quest to reclaim the continental title.

With this win, Egypt share the top spot in Group B with South Africa, who also defeated Angola 2–1, as both teams collected three points at the end of the opening round.

Despite Egypt’s strong start and clear control of the game from the opening minutes, Zimbabwe managed to spring a surprise by taking the lead in the 20th minute through Prince Dube, capitalizing on a counter-attack to put the Egyptians under early pressure.

The goal came during a spell of sustained Egyptian pressure, led by Mohamed Salah, Emam Ashour, and Marwan Attia, with several missed chances that could have settled the match much earlier.

Zimbabwe’s response after the goal gave their players a clear confidence boost, as they showed greater aggression in duels and solid defensive organization. Meanwhile, Egypt’s attacking efficiency was affected by a lack of concentration and rushed finishing, as head coach Hossam Hassan stated after the match.

In the second half, however, Egypt returned with a different mindset, increasing the tempo and intensifying their attacking pressure, aided by more dynamic movement from Omar Marmoush and Zimbabwe’s deeper defensive stance. This pressure paid off in the 63rd minute when Marmoush fired a powerful shot from a tight angle into the top of the net, bringing the match back level.

The “Pharaohs” continued to press until the final moments, and the decisive breakthrough arrived through captain Mohamed Salah, who turned his team’s dominance into a dramatic stoppage-time winner with a quick strike from inside the penalty area, underlining his decisive influence and handing Egypt a crucial morale-boosting opening victory.

After the match, Hossam Hassan explained that conceding an early goal against the run of play made the contest more difficult, stressing that poor concentration and missed clear chances were the main factors that complicated the game. He confirmed that Egypt controlled most phases of the match but must improve their finishing. He also emphasized that the tournament will be challenging, given the close level of competition and the determination of all teams in the group to fight for qualification.

Meanwhile, Egypt team doctor Mohamed Abu El Ela revealed that Mostafa Mohamed and Mohamed Hamdy suffered bruises during the match and will undergo further medical checks to assess their condition. As Salah and his teammates prepare for a tough encounter against South Africa in the second round, the clash will provide another key test to shape the battle for top spot and gauge Egypt’s ability to maintain momentum toward a potential eighth continental title.

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