Online Reporter
WHEN the Warriors march into Stade Adrar in Agadir tonight, there is no doubt that Egyptian superstar Mohamed Salah will carry much of the burden for the former champions in what is a very tricky 2025 AFCON opener for them.
The Warriors, under the guidance of Marian Marinica, go into battle as underdogs, but with a good chance of causing a major upset in Morocco.
Although the North Africans are more than just Salah, the spotlight has remained on the Liverpool star whose future at Anfield remains uncertain.
The Pharaohs coach Hossam Hassan however says his star is not distracted ahead of their group B opponents, the Warriors.
“Salah’s morale in training is very high, as if he were just starting out with the national team, and I believe he will have a great tournament with his country,” Hassan told reporters ahead of Egypt’s opening AFCON game.
“I feel his motivation is very, very strong. Salah is an icon and will remain so. He is one of the best players in the world, and I support him in everything he does,” Hassan added.
Salah did not start any of Liverpool’s last five games before departing for the Cup of Nations in Morocco and things came to a head following the recent Premier League draw at Leeds United when he claimed he had been “thrown under the bus” by his coach at Anfield, Arne Slot. That suggested a move away from the troubled English Premier League champions during the January transfer window was a real possibility.
“I don’t consider what happened to him to be a crisis. These things often happen between players and coaches,” Hassan added.
“We’ve been in contact with him by phone from the beginning, and I met with him when he joined the national team camp. His focus is entirely on the tournament.”
Salah, 33, is aiming to lead Egypt to a record-extending eighth AFCON title in Morocco. He has never won the continental title, but ended up on the losing side in final defeats by Cameroon in 2017 and Senegal in 2022.
His goals this year have already helped Egypt qualify for the World Cup.
“Whenever Salah’s performances dip with his club, he regains his strength with the national team and becomes even better, whether by contributing to goals or scoring himself. Then he returns to his club even stronger,” Hassan added.
“He needs to win the cup by helping us and by helping himself.”
Egypt will also face South Africa and Angola in Group B at the Cup of Nations, with all three of their games in the first round being played in Agadir.
Egypt and Zimbabwe will meet at the Stade Adrar in Agadir for the second time at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, this time in a Group B clash that kicks-off at 21 00 local time (20 00 GMT) on Monday.
This is the 14th meeting between Egypt and Zimbabwe overall.
Egypt have dominated past encounters, winning eight of their previous 13 matches, with four draws and one Zimbabwe victory.
Their only previous AFCON meetings came in opening matches at the 2004 and 2019 tournaments, both won by Egypt.
Zimbabwe led in their first-ever AFCON match in 2004 in Sfax, Tunisia, when Peter Ndlovu scored, but goals from Tamer Abdel Hamid and Mohamed Barakat secured a 2–1 win for Egypt.
At the 2019 AFCON, hosts Egypt again defeated Zimbabwe 1–0 in Cairo, with Mahmoud Trezeguet scoring in the 41st minute.
Egypt have won the last six meetings between the two nations.
Egypt are unbeaten in their last 10 matches against Zimbabwe (W7 D3).
Zimbabwe’s only win over Egypt was a 2–1 home victory in 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifying on 20 December 1992.
Mo Salah scored a hat-trick when Egypt beat Zimbabwe 4-2 in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying on June 9, 2013 in Harare, with Knowledge Musona scoring for Zimbabwe.
Egypt have scored at least two goals in five of their last six matches against Zimbabwe.
Current Egypt coach Hossam Hassan faced Zimbabwe four times as a player, winning two matches, drawing one and losing once. — AFP Sport/ CAF/ Zimpapers Sports Hub.
