2025 Africa Cup of Nations

Egypt vs Zimbabwe Predictions - Pharaohs to Cruise Past Warriors in AFCON opener

John Eastwood

Editor

Last updated: 32 minutes ago

John Eastwood 32 minutes ago

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Egypt are in excellent form, winning 5 of their last 6 World Cup Qualifiers.
Zimbabwe is struggling, just 2 wins in their last 17 matches.
Predictions favour Egypt with a -1 handicap and a clean sheet.

Salah and Marmoush to inspire Egypt past Zimbabwe (Getty Images).

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Egypt vs Zimbabwe Predictions

Egypt are in top form and face a struggling Zimbabwe. I see a win on the -1 handicap for Egypt in this match and a win to zero.
Egypt vs Zimbabwe Predictions
Key Stats – Egypt Flying Whilst Zimbabwe Toil
Head to Head – Egypt have won last five
Egypt Winning Regularly – World Cup Reached
Zimbabwe In Dire Form, Recent Coaching Change
Predicted Lineups & Team News

Key Stats – Egypt Flying Whilst Zimbabwe Toil

Egypt have won 5 of their last 6 competitive matches (World Cup Qualifiers).
Egypt have won their last 5 matches vs Zimbabwe (10 goals scored)
Zimbabwe are winless in 15 of their last 17 matches.
Zimbabwe have lost 4 of their last 6 matches.
Zimbabwe have failed to score in 4 of their last 6 matches.

Head to Head – Egypt have won last five

Egypt hold a 6-1 advantage over Zimbabwe across nine clashes with two draws.

Egypt have won the last five meetings, including 1-0 in the 2019 AFCON.

Egypt Winning Regularly – World Cup Reached

Egypt have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They beat Djibouti 3-0 and Guinea-Bissau 1-0 in their final two qualifiers.

In November, they lost 2-0 to Uzbekistan and drew 1-1 with Cape Verde in two friendlies. The Arab Cup followed with a second-string squad.

Egypt beat Nigeria 2-1 in a pre-tournament friendly played on Tuesday. Zizo and Mahmoud Saber were on target.

Zimbabwe In Dire Form, Recent Coaching Change

Zimbabwe have won just two of their last 17 matches going back over a year. They failed to qualify for next year’s World Cup.

A 1-0 loss to Benin was followed by a 1-0 home defeat to Rwanda in World Cup qualifying. In October’s qualifiers, they drew 0-0 in South Africa and lost 1-0 to Lesotho.

In November, the Warriors lost 3-1 to Algeria in a friendly. A rare win followed as they beat Qatar 2-1 in Doha with Munashe Garananga and Bill Antonio on target.

Predicted Lineups & Team News

Egypt (4-5-1): Elshenawy; Hany, Rabia, Abdelmonem, Hamdi; Attia, Zizo, Fathy; Salah, Marmoush, Trezeguet.

Full squad:

Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy (Al Ahly), Ahmed El Shenawy (Pyramids), Mostafa Shobeir (Al Ahly), Mohamed Sobhy (Zamalek).

Defenders: Mohamed Hany (Al Ahly), Ahmed Eid (Al Masry), Ramy Rabia (Al Ain), Khaled Sobhi (Al Masry), Yasser Ibrahim (Al Ahly), Mohamed Ismail (Zamalek), Hossam Abdelmaguid (Zamalek), Mohamed Hamdy (Pyramids), Ahmed Fatouh (Zamalek).

Midfielders: Marwan Attia (Al Ahly), Hamdi Fathy (Al Wakrah), Mohanad Lasheen (Pyramids), Mahmoud Saber (Zed), Mohamed Shehata (Zamalek), Emam Ashour (Al Ahly), Zizo (Al Ahly), Trezeguet (Al Ahly), Ibrahim Adel (Al Jazira), Mostafa Fathi (Pyramids).

Forwards: Omar Marmoush (Manchester City), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Mostafa Mohamed (Nantes), Salah Mohsen (Al Masry), Osama Faisal (Al Ahly Bank).

The Egyptians have a very strong squad, led by captain Mohamed Salah. Omar Marmoush of Man City is another key man.

The majority of the defenders and midfielders are based in Egypt. Mohamed Elneny has been left out of the squad.

Zimbabwe (4-2-3-1): Arubi; Murwira, Garananga, Galloway, Lunga; Nakamba, Fabisch; Msendami, Musona, Antonio; Wadi.

Full Squad:

Goalkeepers: Washington Arubi (Marumo Gallants), Elvis Chipezeze (Magesi), Martin Mapisa (MWOS FC).

Defenders: Godknows Murwira (Scottland), Emmanuel Jalai (Dynamos FC), Sean Fusire (Sheffield Wednesday), Munashe Garananga (FC Copenhagen), Gerald Takwara (Al Ittihad Misurata), Isheanesu Mauchi (Simba Bhora), Brendon Galloway (Plymouth Argyle), Teenage Hadebe (FC Cincinnati), Alec Mudimu (Flint Town United), Divine Lunga (Mamelodi Sundowns).

Midfielders: Marvelous Nakamba (Luton Town), Jonah Fabisch (Erzgebirg Aue), Andy Rinomhota (Reading), Prosper Padera (SJK Seinajoki), Tawanda Chirewa (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Knowledge Musona (Scottland)

Forwards: Bill Antonio (KV Mechelen), Ishmael Wadi (CAPS United), Tawanda Maswanhise (Motherwell), Daniel Msendami (Marumo Gallants), Prince Dube (Young Africans), Washington Navaya (TelOne FC), Macauley Bonne (Maldon & Tiptree), Junior Zindoga (TS Galaxy), Tadiwanashe Chakuchichi (Scottland).

Mario Marinica took over as coach after the sacking of Michael Nees. Attackers Khama Billiat and Thando Ngwenya were left out of the squad.

Key midfielder Marshall Munetsi will play no part in the tournament. The Wolves man is out with an injury, and his absence is a real blow.