With Egypt against Zimbabwe, the opening match of the 32nd edition of the Africa Cup will take place at the Cairo International Stadium! For the first time, the hosts do not welcome 15 other countries, but 23 nations. Another innovation is the scheduling: Instead of as in January, the tournament now takes place in the summer break. This has the distinct advantage that the hiccups of hiring the best players, who usually lace up football boots at clubs in Europe, are less of a problem. Cameroon was actually planning to host this year’s Africa Cup, but constant scheduling delays in the organization led to a withdrawal of the host role and the assignment to Egypt. Most recently, the country carried out the competition in 2006 and was able to decorate itself with the title at the end.
It was then the start of a series of three consecutive victories in the Africa Cup. The chances for another title are also not bad: With Mohamed Salah from the newly crowned Champions League winner Liverpool FC they have a striker of world-class format in their ranks. In addition, the Egyptians of course have the home advantage. In the first match, they meet with Zimbabwe again on an opponent who takes in the world rankings with the 110th rank almost twice as high as the rank of the Pharaohs. No wonder that in the match between Egypt and Zimbabwe the odds turn out clearly in favor of the home side. The Egypt against Zimbabwe Tipp again sees at least two hits in the game and a goal by Mohamed Salah.
Egypt:
The record holder with seven wins at the African Cup presented himself in a solid form in preparation for the tournament. So Egypt won this month first the friendly against Tanzania 1-0 and then followed a 3-1 win against Guinea. At least the latter opponent is to be estimated more strongly than the coming counterparty. In Egypt, of course, the hopes are mainly on Mo Salah. However, the striker has a very long season in the bones, especially against the background that he played with Liverpool the maximum number of games in the Champions League.
How much depends on the team of the Mexican coach Javier Aguirre, was the recent victory against Guinea clear. Here he was only in the 61st minute came on and after he entered the turf, the team flourished noticeably and still marked the two decisive goals for the success against the Syli National. Comparatively well in Egypt is still the defensive occupied. Here Aguirre can draw on players such as the tall Ahmed Hegazy of West Bromwich Albion from the Championship or Mohamed Elneny of Arsenal FC from the Premier League. The list also unquestionably includes right-back Ahmed El Mohamady of Premier League star Aston Villa. In Egypt against Zimbabwe, therefore, the odds for a home victory of the Pharaohs without conceding are also worth consideration.
Zimbabwe:
The Warriors have never made it past the preliminary rounds in their recent appearances at the Africa Cup, and qualifying for the tournament has been modest four times. Two years ago, when the competition took place in Gabon, the group stage also ended without victory. Instead, it defeated Tunisia and Senegal and the only point jumped out thanks to a draw against Algeria. Overall, the country has a record of two wins, a draw and six defeats at the African Cup on. Apart from that, Zimbabwe has hardly made an appearance internationally so far. There has never been a qualifier for the World Cup, with no chance for 2018, as FIFA beat the association due to unpaid salaries of a former coach without further ado.
At the recent COSAFA Cup, which is hosted by the Football Association of Southern Africa once a year, Zimbabwe took third place. A placement that also represents a waste, because in the last two years the competition was still won in each case and the opposition is of course fundamentally weak with countries like the Comoros or Lesotho. Among the best players in the squad is Marvelous Nakamba of the Belgian runner-up Club Bruges. However, the defensive midfielder made his first name in this game season less honor than before and in the Flemish he is now only a part-time force for the starting eleven. This applies even more to the most successful attacker in the jersey of the Warriors, the 28-year-old Knowledge Musona. Like Nakamba he plays in the Jupiler League, but in the past season he came only on very few missions for his employer Sporting Lokeren. A club that will only be second-rate in the upcoming season.
PREDICTION: Under 2,5 goals @ 1,74
