2025 Africa Cup of Nations: Group B Match Preview â?? Egypt vs Zimbabwe

Egypt begin their quest for an eighth Africa Cup of Nations title with Group B’s opener against Zimbabwe at Adrar Stadium on Monday.

Hossam Hassan’s team are one of the pre-tournament favourites, and the Pharaohs will aim to avoid coming unstuck against the Warriors, who could surprise with the element of unpredictability, having just switched manager, with Mario Marinica replacing Michael Nees last month.

Since winning their seventh African title in Luanda 15 years ago, Egypt have not added to their record number of victories, but it has not been for the want of trying.

The Pharaohs have made it to two finals — in 2017 and 2021 — only to fall to Cameroon and Senegal on both occasions, despite scoring first against the Indomitable Lions in the former and getting a let-off after Gabaski’s penalty save to deny Sadio Mane early doors in the latter.

Three-time champion Hassan is now in situ as manager of the continent’s most decorated side, aiming to bring home the title he claimed in 1986, 1998 and 2006, the latter of which was the first in Egypt’s historic three-peat.

While there is undoubted pressure on host nation Morocco, the seven-time winners enter this year’s finals carrying a weight of expectation on their shoulders, especially as the tournament is being held on North African soil.

The burden has probably never been heavier at this edition for Mohamed Salah, the nation’s captain and talisman, who enters AFCON 2025 — his fifth overall and third as captain — knowing this could be his last chance to seal his legacy in African football.

The 33-year-old was part of the group that came close at AFCONs 2017 and 2021, the latter as captain, and he hopes to be third time lucky on the continent this time to put all his Liverpool turbulence behind him.

Nevertheless, Egypt must not look that far ahead, especially as they face a Zimbabwe side fresh off a managerial change after Marinica replaced Nees.

The Warriors’ change before the tournament’s start could go either way: they could shock and awe under a new tactical plan or could flounder spectacularly on their sixth appearance at the finals.

While it remains to be seen how they fare, logic points to Zimbabwe struggling at the continental showpiece, having barely pulled up trees in qualifying for the tournament.

They fired blanks in their first two matches and needed a Khama Billiat penalty to defeat Namibia on matchday three, suggesting some challenges in creating chances.

Strikingly, two of their six in qualifying came from 12 yards, and while their three clean sheets, including against five-time champions Cameroon, bode well in tournament football, the Warriors will need to defend well and make the most of opportunities created to add to their three overall AFCON wins.

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