Egypt Begin Afcon Campaign Under Pressure as Zimbabwe Hold Firm Early On
As the Africa Cup of Nations gets underway, all eyes are once again on Egypt, one of the tournament’s most decorated teams, as they open their Group B campaign against Zimbabwe. This was supposed to be a routine start for the Pharaohs, but as the match settled into its early stages, it became clear that Zimbabwe were not here just to make up the numbers.
Egypt came into this game with history firmly on their side. They had beaten Zimbabwe in their last six meetings and had lost to them only once, way back in 1992. With that kind of record, expectations were high, especially with Mohamed Salah leading the line. For Salah, now 33, this tournament feels especially important. After a turbulent period at club level, this Africa Cup of Nations is being seen as one of his remaining chances to cement his legacy with a major international trophy.
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From the opening whistle, Egypt dominated possession, keeping the ball for nearly 77 percent of the time. The tempo was controlled, passes were crisp, and Zimbabwe were largely pushed deep into their own half. Chances started to arrive almost immediately. Salah was heavily involved, curling inviting balls into the box and testing Zimbabwe’s defensive organisation. Emam Ashour was put clean through from close range, and it really should have been the opener, but the chance was wasted. Shortly after, Salah himself saw a close-range effort blocked, adding to a sense of frustration among Egyptian fans.
Zimbabwe, however, showed resilience. Their goalkeeper, Washington Arubi, was called into action early and produced a superb save to deny Trezeguet’s header after a pinpoint delivery from Salah. That moment seemed to galvanise the underdogs. While chances were few, Zimbabwe were not completely passive. Prince Dube managed to get their first effort on goal, even if it drifted wide, and his physical presence caused a few uncomfortable moments for Egypt’s defence.
What stood out was Zimbabwe’s discipline and structure. Marvelous Nakamba anchored the midfield with authority, breaking up play and slowing Egypt’s rhythm whenever possible. Even when defending deep, clearances were made at key moments, and Egypt were forced into rushed finishes rather than clean strikes.
As the match moved on with the score still level, the pressure slowly began to shift. For Egypt, anything less than a win would feel like a missed opportunity, especially in a group where every point could prove decisive. For Zimbabwe, simply holding firm against a heavyweight like Egypt was already a statement.
This opening game has shown that reputation alone will not be enough at this Africa Cup of Nations. Egypt have the quality, but patience and precision will be required. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, have already shown that they are capable of disrupting the script and making life uncomfortable for even the tournament favourites.
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