Egypt 1-0 Zimbabwe: Trezeguet fires Pharaohs to opening win
Egypt vs Zimbabwe - CAN 2019 live
Egypt get their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations of to a winning start at a packed Cairo International Stadium.
A fine strike from Kasimpasa striker Trezeguet in the 41st minute was enough for Javier Aguirre's side in a game which saw the tempo drop off considerably in the second 45'.
Zimbabwe were valiant and full of endeavour but lacked a cutting edge of quality in their quest to break the Egyptians down.
Mo Salah looked good for the home side who may have cruised in the second half, aware that bigger battles lie ahead.
The whistle sounds at the end of the first match of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations and Egypt secure maximum points with a win over a valiant Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe to their credit haven't given up tonight ...just lacked some top level quality to be able to really challenge Egypt.
4 minutes of time to be added. Billiat has been the brighest spark for the Warriors tonight
Into the last minute we go. Can Zimbabwe offer a late sucker punch?
Talent Chawapiwa carded for a foul... first card of CAN 2019
Chawapiwa on - Musona off (ZIM)
Salah almost makes it two but Chipezeze saves well. First intervention from the sub. keeper.
Rusike on for Mushekwi (change for Zimbabwe)
Egypt look solid tonight but favourites to lift the trophy mid July ?
Certainly too soon to say but not a dazzling performance from the Pharoahs
Biolliat again for Zimbabwe as he feeds Karuru who sees Hegazi make a fine interception to clear the danger.
75.000 fans at the Cairo International Stadium tonught... a full house
Dunga on for Egypt as Trezeguet makes way
Elvis Chipezeze set to replace the injured Sibanda in the Zimbabwe goal
Karuru gets a shot on target for the Warriors but the ball is driven straight at El Shenawi in the Egypt goal
Sibanda looks to be in trouble again...
The pace of the game has really dropped off in this second half.
15' to go in Cairo.
Just the one shot on target tonight for Zimbabwe. The Warriors are just lacking that added bit of quality to really trouble Egypt. Plenty of endeavour and willing but ....
El Said off and replaced with Warda (Egypt)
Munetsi has a pop from long range but the ball drifts wide
70' stats:
- 0
- 15
- 30
- 45
- 60
- 75
- 90
- 68%31%
- 90%9%
- 64%35%
- 52%47%
- 59%40%
- 61%38%
- 77%22%
- 63%36%
- 60%39%
- 64%35%
- 56%43%
- 51%48%
- 46%53%
Sibanda it has to be said has been solid in the Zimbabwe goal and thanks to the stopper The Warriors are still in the game.
Salah goes close and forces Sibanda into action again
The one goal margin is far from a comfortable score-line for the home side with a sliver of tension palpable from the home fans. True that El Shenawi in the Egypt goal has yet to be really called into action but zimbabwe are no total push-overs..
The tempo in the game has dropped somewhat, with the heat taking its toll
Play is still held up as Sibanda seems to be in a bad way.
and it's Mohsen who makes way for his Al Ahly team-mate Soliman
Sibanda getting attention after a colission with Mohsen.
Soliman posied to come on for Egypt
Billiat certainly is Zimbabwe's busiest player and instrumental at the heart of their attacking play.
Hegazi fouls Billiat and the Kaizer Chiefs player to take.... over hit and easy for El Shenawi to gather.
Zimbabwe lack that little bit of composure as the ball bobbles around the edge of the area but no man in yellow capable of controlling the ball.
Egypt's coach Javier Aguirre watches the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) football match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at Cairo International Stadium
Sibanda saves well for Zimbabwe as Egypt look hungry at the start of this second half.
Mushekwi caught just inches offside after a finely threraded ball from Billiat.
It's fair to say that Billiat is not having a great night !
We're underway in Cairo for the second 45'
Egypt good value for their lead at the interval after a bright start with Zimbabwe coming into the action as the game wore on. Can The Warriors find a way back? Stay with us for the second 45' !
The whistle sounds amid the din at the Cairo International Stadium with the host side 1-0 ahead.
Strangely enough there was no water break on the 30' mark ....
Mohsen getting attention as play is held up briefly
2' of time to be added
Billiat has yet to judge the weight of this Umbra CAN ball, the second time he's massively overhit the ball
Salah strikes again but just fails to get the ball to bend.
Great individual striker from the Kasımpaşa player beating two defenders latching onto a 1-2 with Achraf, cutting inside and driving a perfectly struck ball away from the grasp of Sibanda.
Lunga seems to be able to read Salah's moves already winning the ball off the Liverpool striker on a number of times now
Free for The Warriors... Billiat to take and goes for goal but blazes over.
A Salah corner swings in wickedly as Alaa El-Din just fails to get his head on the ball.
Hegazy collides with Billiat and immediately calls for help
Stats after 30': Zimbabwe clawing their way back into the action.
- 0
- 15
- 30
- 45
- 60
- 75
- 90
- 68%31%
- 90%9%
- 64%35%
- 52%47%
- 59%40%
A few wayward passes now from Egypt with the volume of noise coming from the crowd considerasbly at a lower level than in the early stages.
Excellent build-up play from the Warriors, enjoying their best spell of the night which ended with Musona getting a shot off which was well guarded by Hegazy. The Zimbabwe side growing in confidence.
Mohsen catches a lofted ball and from an acute angle blazes the volley high and wide
Egypt try and thread their way through the Zimbabwe defence but yet again resolute action from the men in yellow denies the Pharoahs attack
Don't forget that there is no VAR at this stage of CAN 2019 with video technology only to be used for the quarter final stage onward.
Salah tries a left footed effort but blazes high and wide
- 0
- 15
- 30
- 45
- 60
- 75
- 90
- 68%31%
- 90%9%
Mushekwi is receiving attention after the collision with El Shenawi .
Egypt break at pace and El Said again gets a shot off but blazes wide. Good work from Salah,
Lofted ball into the Egypt area looking for Mushekwi who collides with El Shenawi
DR Congo and Uganda are the other sides in Group A and both teams are in action tomorrow also here at the Cairo International.
Great work from Egypt as El Said and Salah work a clever 1-2 with the Pyramids player forcing Sibanda to save. All Egypt at the momnent.
Every ball into the Zimbabwe box causing problems for the men in yellow. Egyot looking composed and comfortable,
Danger as Zimbabwe strike with Karuru winning the Warriors a corner which Nakamba heads wide.
Sibanda called into action tipping over from Mohsen. Bright start from The Pharoahs.
The ball for the competition is the rather smart Umbro Neo Pro
Off we go.... the AFCON 2019 is underway as Egypt start the action
Alioum Alioum (Cameroon) is our match official tonight.
Favourite's and FIFA ranked No. 58 Egypt against Group A outsiders Zimbabwe.
Fans belting out the Egyptian national anthem with gusto
Egypt will be in their new Puma made kits with red shirts, white shorts and black socks
Zimbabwe (The Warriors) will be wearing their all yellow kit tonight.
Egypt have reached the final in each of their last four AFCON participations, losing only one of their last 25 games in the competition (W18 D6) – but that was the final in 2017.
Zimbabwe are making their fourth AFCON appearance. They have finished bottom of their group in each of their previous three participations and never kept a clean sheet in nine matches.
...and for Egypt, well, it has to be Salah:
The likes of Mohamed Elneny and captain Ahmed Elmohamady underline the fact Egypt are far from a one-man team. But it is impossible to look beyond their star attraction, who heads into a moment of reckoning before his adoring public at the peak of his powers and as a Champions League winner. Stop him if you can
Our Zimbabwe man to watch tonight is Nyasha Mushekwi.
Back in the national team picture for the first time in two years after scoring 15 times for Dalian Yifang in the Chinese Super League last season. The 30-year-old striker is well travelled, having plied his trade in South Africa, Belgium and Sweden before moving to Asia.
What about LaLiga based players participating at the current Africa Cup of Nations we hear you ask.... This, then may be of interest to you....
A formidable looking strike-force for The Pharaohs tonight with Trezeguet, Al-Ahly's Mohsen and the Egyptian King himself, Mo Salah.
Much has been discussed relating to the high temperatures the players will have to endure at CAN 2019. Tonight's game sees a current temp. of 28 in the Egyptian capital. Warm but not as unbearable as tomorrow's DR Congo-Uganda game when temps are set to hit 38 degrees C.
The Cairo International is packed to the rafters with excited fans, with 99.9% wearing Egypt colours
Zimbabwe boss Sunday Chidzambwa believes Egypt are the tournament favourites and is realistic about his own team's prospects at Cairo International Stadium.
"We know how strong Egypt are especially when they play at home and the fans on their side supporting them throughout the competition," he told reporters
Mohamed Salah will carry the hopes of the host nation into Egypt's 2019 Africa Cup of Nations opener against Zimbabwe in Cairo tonight.
The Pharaohs and the continent's outstanding player are chasing an eighth African title having fallen short in the 2017 final against Cameroon.
The champions were the intended hosts before organisers stripped them of those rights amid security and preparation concerns, and Egypt's record when staging the AFCON is formidable.
Three of the previous four times – 1959, 1986 and 2006 – they have run out winners and came third in 1974.