Egypt began their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign on a dramatic note, edging past FIFA-ranked 129th Zimbabwe with a 2-1 victory, courtesy of a last-gasp goal from star forward Mohamed Salah. The result propelled the seven-time African champions to the top of Group B after the opening round of matches.
The clash, held at Morocco’s Adrar Stadium on Monday evening, saw Egypt, ranked 35th in the world, dominate possession and dictate play from the outset. Despite their early control, it was Zimbabwe who struck first. In the 20th minute, Prince Dube capitalised on a defensive lapse to put the visitors ahead, sending a shock through the Egyptian ranks.
Chasing the game, Egypt launched a series of relentless attacks. However, Zimbabwe’s goalkeeper Washington Arubi was in inspired form, producing nine crucial saves in the match to keep his team in contention through the first half.
Egypt finally drew level in the 64th minute when Omar Marmoush converted a clinical finish, restoring parity and giving his side renewed momentum. Despite creating numerous chances, the Egyptians struggled to find a second goal during regular play, taking a total of 35 shots compared to Zimbabwe’s eight.
The breakthrough arrived in stoppage time (90+1 minutes) when Salah met a cross from Mostafa Mahmoud with a precise low strike that beat Arubi, sealing a thrilling victory and securing all three points for Egypt.
Meanwhile, in the other Group B encounter, South Africa defeated Angola 2-1, setting up a crucial fixture between Egypt and South Africa on Friday. The outcome of that match could prove decisive in determining the group leader ahead of the next round.
Match Statistics – Egypt vs Zimbabwe
| Statistic | Egypt | Zimbabwe |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 2 | 1 |
| Shots | 35 | 8 |
| Shots on Target | 11 | 4 |
| Possession (%) | 68 | 32 |
| Saves | 1 | 9 |
| Corners | 7 | 2 |
| Fouls | 12 | 15 |
Egypt’s victory, highlighted by Salah’s dramatic winner, not only marks a positive start to their AFCON journey but also reinforces their status as one of Africa’s elite sides. With the next fixture against South Africa looming, Egypt will be keen to maintain their winning momentum in pursuit of a record-extending eighth continental title.