RABAT – RECORD tournament winners, Egypt, survived a scare as they opened a campaign to end a 15-year wait to lift the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The hard-fought 2-1 win over Zimbabwe at the Stade Adrar is testament of the gap closing between the heavyweights and the minors.
Bottled evening by resolute defending by Zimbabwe, Mohammed Salah pounced out of the blue to break Zimbabwean hearts in stoppage time.
On paper, this was a mismatch, a duel between record seven-time champions and a team that has never progressed from the group stages in their five appearances at the tournament.
However, if there is a team that is ever a nuisance for Egypt, it is Zimbabwe.
They knocked them out in the qualifiers for the 1994 World Cup.
In their last meeting at the tournament in 2004, Zimbabwe’s first AFCON appearance, Zimbabwe led and had a panicky Egypt eventually eking a 2-1 win.
On Monday evening in Morocco, the same scenario prevailed.
Prince Dube returned scored the opening goal, turning expertly and controlling deftly to fire past Mohamed El Shenawy.
This followed brilliant work on the right by Emmanuel Jalai.
Zimbabwe held on to their lead to the break, thanks to the heroics of 40-year-old goalkeeper, Washington Arubi, and a glut of wasted opportunities by Salah and co.
The veteran was called to action again to repel a goal-bound effort by Omar Marmoush in the 54th minute as Egypt rallied for an equalizer.
At the other end, his opposite number, El Shenawy had to dive low to thwart substitute Macauley Bonne from increasing Zimbabwe’s advantage in the 61st minute.
Pressure eventually paid off for the Egyptians in the 64th minute when Marmoush leveled the scores from an angle.
With the match seemingly heading for a draw, superstar Salah shrugged off a challenge in the box and on the turn, fired in the winner in the first of four minutes added.
Earlier on Monday, Zambia also scored in added time to secure a 1-1 draw against Mali.
South Africa beat Angola 2-1.
– CAJ News
