By Valentine Amanze
The national football team of Egypt, the Pharoahs, on Friday June 21, 2019 opened this year’s African Nations Cup competition with a hard-earned 1-0 victory against the Warriors of Zimbabwe.
Mahmoud Hassan known as Trezeguet scored Egypt’s winning goal seven minutes before half time after a wonderful play with Ayman Ashraf.
Egyptian players, who gained their first three points at the competition, hope to achieve the eighth title at the competition.
With fireworks, pharaonic costumes and joyful song by Egyptian folk singer Hakim, Nigerian Femi Kuti and Côte d’Ivoiren Dobet Gnahore, the 2019 African Nations Championship (AFCON) kicked off at Cairo International Stadium on Friday.
Egypt plays in Group A alongside Zimbabwe, DR Congo and Uganda.
The Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda meet on Saturday at Cairo Stadium at the other game of the group.
Group winners and runners-up qualify for the knockout second round along with the best four of the six third-place finishers.