Egypt, the most decorated nation in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations with seven titles, has perfectly launched its campaign for CAN 2025 in Morocco. In their opening match against Zimbabwe, held on December 22 at the Grand Stadium of Agadir, the Pharaohs secured a valuable 2-1 victory. Trailing for much of the match, Hossam Hassan’s men demonstrated exemplary resilience, led by their global stars, to turn the tide and claim all three points. This laborious start confirms that the Egyptians must also be counted among the contenders.
Despite an obvious dominance in the first half, Egypt was caught off guard by a brave and well-organized Zimbabwean team. The Warriors took the lead with an opportunistic goal, exploiting a rare gap in the Egyptian defense. However, the Pharaohs never panicked. Omar Marmoush, the in-form Manchester City forward, equalized with a powerful strike at the hour mark, reigniting hope for an entire nation. The Egyptian pressure intensified, with overwhelming possession and numerous chances, ultimately rewarding the perseverance of the seven-time African champions.
The hero of the evening was none other than captain Mohamed Salah. In stoppage time, the Liverpool genius sealed the victory with a clinical left-footed finish, following a magnificent team play. This liberating goal, his eighth in the AFCON, once again highlights Salah’s decisive impact on the national team, where he is regaining his full glory. With this narrow yet crucial success, Egypt joins South Africa at the top of the group and approaches the next matches with confidence. The Pharaohs prove they have the mentality of great champions and are clearly aiming for an eighth continental title. The next crucial encounter is against the Bafana Bafana on December 26!
