- Monday, December 22, 2025
- Egypt vs. Zimbabwe
- Grande Stade d’Agadir – 9 pm [11 pm EAT]
Seven-time champions Egypt kickstart their Group B campaign against Zimbabwe on Monday at Adrar Stadium in Agadir, aiming for victory.
Mohamed Salah-led side are one favourites coming into the tournament and a decent start in a tricky group is imperative.
Head coach Hossam Hassan has respect for all opponents in the group, including The Warriors.
“I have great respect and admiration for them. All teams in the group are strong and have important, professional players,” he told CAFonline.
“African football has developed a lot in recent years, but we will give our all to win the title and make the Egyptian people happy.”
Since their triumph in Angola in 2010, Egypt has not added another title despite reaching final in 2017 and 2021 but Hassan, a three-time champion as a player believes he has a team with a winning mentality to break the 15-year jinx.
“Everyone in the Egyptian national team already has a winning mentality, which is fantastic,” narrated Hossam. “Thank God, I managed to win titles with the Egyptian national team as a player in 1986, 1998, and 2006.
“We will do everything possible to reach the top and lift the trophy again this year. Achieving that requires tremendous effort from every member of the team.”
Omar Mamoursh, Trezeguet and Mohamed Mostafa will lead the hunt for goals for the Pharaohs while the Warriors will look to Tawanda Chirewa, Young Africans’ Prince Dube, Knowledge Musona and Marvellous Nakamba for inspiration.