Egypt 1-0 Zimbabwe: Trezeguet nets winner as hosts get off to perfect start at Africa Cup of Nations
- Trezeguet got Egypt up and running at the Africa Cup of Nations on Friday
- He scored the only goal of the game in the 41st minute against Zimbabwe
- The 24-year-old cut in from the left before curling home into the bottom corner
- There was a packed crowd of 70,000 at the opening game of the tournament
Trezeguet scored the only goal as hosts Egypt opened their Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a 1-0 victory over Zimbabwe in Cairo.
The winger curled home four minutes before the interval to reward the Pharaohs for a dominant first-half display.
Zimbabwe did threaten late on after Egypt failed to capitalise on further chances but the home side held on.
Trezeguet scored the only goal of the game as Egypt narrowly beat Zimbabwe 1-0
He celebrates after getting Egypt’s home Africa Cup of Nations campaign up and running
Egypt celebrates following Trezeguet’s first-half goal against Zimbabwe in the opening game
Egypt players celebrate after the 41st minute winner on a tough evening for the hosts
There had been reports Zimbabwe’s players could boycott the Group A encounter amid a pay dispute but that did not materialise.
Yet Zimbabwe soon looked like the outsiders they had been billed as. Mohamed Salah, Marwan Mohsen and Abdallah El-Said all forced good saves from Edmore Sibanda early on.
Liverpool forward Salah also fired over and wriggled through a series of challenges before shooting at Sibanda again.
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah couldn’t produce his magic against Zimbabwe in Egypt
Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny in possession of the ball as Egypt hold on for the victory
Knowledge Musona had a shot blocked on a rare Zimbabwe attack before Trezeguet struck by cutting in from the left and bending a fine effort around Sibanda.
Egypt maintained the pressure after the break but Trezeguet and Salah both missed the target.
Salah also tested Sibanda, who later went off injured, after being played through by Trezeguet.
Egypt tired late on and were almost caught out as Zimbabwe’s Ovidy Karuru shot at Mohamed El-Shenawy from 30 yards.
The hosts put on a show before the action got underway in the first Africa Cup of Nations game
Those performing in the ceremony dress up as Pharaohs as they give Africa a taste of Egypt