Egypt edge out Zimbabwe

Egypt secured a 1-0 victory over Zimbabwe in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) Group A match at the Cairo International Stadium in Egypt on Friday.

The Pharaohs dominated the match from the start and Edmore Sibanda was a busy man in the Warriors goal-posts.

The South Africa-based goalkeeper cleared two dangerous balls from Mohamed Salah which were played in the Zimbabwe box in the opening stages of the game.

Sibanda then made two decent saves to deny Egypt duo Abdallah El Said and Salah as pressure mounted on the Zimbabwe defence.

However, the Warriors looked dangerous on the counter-attack and they had a chance to score through Khama Billiat.

The Kaizer Chiefs forward was sent through on goal from a quick free-kick, but he was brilliantly denied by Mohamed El Shenawy in the Egypt goal-posts.

Zimbabwe were left to rue that missed chance as Egypt took the lead through Trezeguet, whose full name is Mahmoud Ahmed Ibrahim Hassan.

The Turkey-based attacker beat his marker, before firing past Sibanda to make it 1-0 to Egypt in the 41st minute.

The Pharaohs continued their dominance after the restart, but they were frustrated by Sibanda, who was having a good match.

The experienced shot-stopper made two great saves to deny Trezeguet and Salah in the first five minutes of the second half.

Egypt's main striker, Marwan Mohsen, was also denied by Sibanda from close range just before the hour-mark as pressure mounted on Zimbabwe.

The Warriors threatened against the run of play with 14 minutes left on the clock, but Ovidy Karuru's long-range shot was well-saved by El Shenawy.

The Warriors suffered a blow in the closing stages of the game as Sibanda went down injured and was replaced by fellow keeper Elvis Chipezeze.

Chipezeze pulled off a brilliant low save to deny Salah and, ultimately, the match ended in a 1-0 victory in favour of the tournament hosts who contained Zimbabwe in the dying minutes of the game.

Egypt (1) 1 (Trezeguet 41')

Zimbabwe (0) 0

Egypt: Mohamed El Shenawy, Hegazi, Alaa, Ashraf, El Mohamady, El Said (Warda 71'), Hamed, Elneny, Trezeguet (Donga 81'), Salah, Mohsen (Soliman 60').

Zimbabwe: Sibanda (Chipezeze 80'), Darikwa, Hadebe, Lunga, Karuru, Mudimu, Nakamba, Munetsi, Mushekwi (Rusike 81'), Billiat, Musona (Chawapiwa 85').