RABAT — Egypt and Zimbabwe will meet at the Stade Adrar in Agadir for the second time at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), this time in a Group B clash that kicks-off on Monday.
This is the 14th meeting between Egypt and Zimbabwe overall.
Egypt has 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 has won the last six meetings between the two nations.
Egypt is unbeaten in their last 10 matches against Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe’s only win over Egypt was a 2–1 home victory in 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifying on December 20, 1992.
Mohamed Salah scored a hat-trick when Egypt beat Zimbabwe 4–2 in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying on June 9, 2013 in Harare, with Knowledge Musona scoring for Zimbabwe.
Egypt has 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.
Egypt – key statistics
Egypt is the most successful team in AFCON history.
They have won seven AFCON titles, more than any other nation, and finished runners-up three times.
Egypt has participated in a record 27 AFCON tournaments.
They have reached the final in five of their last seven participations, winning three consecutive titles in 2006, 2008 and 2010, and finishing runners-up in 2017 and 2021.
Egypt was the inaugural AFCON champions in 1957.
They are the only nation to win AFCON titles in East, West, North and Southern Africa.
Egypt has played a record 111 matches at AFCON finals, winning 60 and scoring 175 goals.
In tournaments hosted in North Africa, they were eliminated at the group stage in 1988, 1990 and 2004, only progressing further in Tunisia in 1994.
Egypt’s opening-game record at AFCON reads 67 per cent win rate.
They lost their opening match at the 2021 edition to Nigeria, their most recent opening-game defeat.
Egypt has lost just one of their last 22 AFCON group matches.
They drew all three group matches at the last edition and were eliminated on penalties by DR Congo in the round of 16.
Egypt is unbeaten in 10 AFCON matches in open play.
Mohamed Salah has scored seven AFCON goals and provided four assists, contributing directly to 11 goals.
Egypt conceded just two goals in qualifying while scoring 12.
Mahmoud Hasssan ‘Trezeguet’ was their top scorer in qualifying with four goals.
Zimbabwe – key statistics
Zimbabwe is making their sixth AFCON appearance.
Their first appearance was in 2004, and they return after missing the 2023 edition.
They have never progressed beyond the group stages.
Zimbabwe has played 15 AFCON matches, winning three, drawing two and losing 10.
They have never won an opening match at AFCON.
Their only opening-match point came in a 2–2 draw with Algeria in 2017.
Their only win at the 2021 edition came against Guinea in the final group match.
All three of Zimbabwe’s AFCON wins have been 2–1 victories, all in final group games.
Zimbabwe has never kept a clean sheet at AFCON finals.
Their heaviest defeat was a 4–0 loss to DR Congo in 2019.
Knowledge Musona could become the first Zimbabwean to feature at four AFCON tournaments.
Zimbabwe scored six goals in qualifying, with Walter Musona top scorer on two.
Four players featured in all six qualifiers: Washington Arubi, Jordan Zemura, Khama Billiat and Andrew Rinomhola.
