Egypt 1-0 Zimbabwe

CAIRO, Egypt — For contending for so long against the hosts and tournament favourites, Zimbabwe will feel encouraged by a dogged shift that restricted Egypt.

Mahmoud Trezeguet scored a 41st minute winner after Zimbabwe captain Knowledge Musona dwelled far too long on the ball before being dispossessed.

Trezeguet weaved in from the left wing, played a one-two with Ayman Ashraf, and shot into the right corner of the net.

Egypt surged forward at the start and Mohamed Salah set up two chances in the first two minutes.

Salah had two good opportunities in the second half but was denied by goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda and then substitute goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze.

Egypt won the last of its record seven African titles in 2010 and endured a lean spell before making it back to the final two years ago, when it lost to Cameroon.

A packed crowd of 70,000 – many of whom had queued from up to 12 hours before kick-off to enter the stadium – ensured a heady atmosphere at the Cairo International Stadium.

Zimbabwe looked to feel the pressure as Egypt had ample opportunity to take an early lead.

Sibanda had a busy start with two saves inside the opening three minutes — both times touching the ball clear of his goal from headed efforts.

Salah was involved in a slick passing move in the ninth minute that offered Abdallah El Said a chance to score the tournament’s opening goal but again Sibanda saved well.

El Said then blasted wide with a similar chance from close range just three minutes later.

Salah’s first effort came after 17 minutes as he cut in from the byline but had only a tight angle to work with and put it wide of the target.

Egypt had a scare as Zimbabwe took a quick free kick that caught the home defence napping but not goalkeeper Mohamed El Shennawi, who came out timely to smoother the opportunity from the impressive Khama Billiat.

Then Trezequet broke the deadlock.

Picking up the ball out wide, he collected it back inside the penalty area after a short pass, and then made a body check to shake off the defence and open room for himself to fire home a curling shot that gave Sibanda no chance.

Salah, who showed no signs of post-season fatigue after a long campaign with Liverpool, had Egypt’s best chances of the second half but continued to be thwarted as Zimbabwe finished stronger. Ovidy Kararu’s powerful shot was the closest they came to an equaliser, but it was saved by El Shennawi.

The Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda — the other two teams in Group A — will get their campaign underway on Saturday.