Egypt’s pedigree and dominance in Group B
The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 brings together one of the tournament’s giants and a perennial underdog as Egypt face Zimbabwe in Group B. With seven AFCON titles and vast tournament experience, Egypt arrive as clear favourites and will be targeting a strong opening statement in Agadir.
The head-to-head record underlines this imbalance. Egypt have lost just once to Zimbabwe in 14 meetings and are unbeaten in their last 10 encounters (W7 D3). Even more telling, the Pharaohs have scored at least two goals in five of the last six clashes, regularly asserting control with their superior quality and game management.
Defensive solidity and star quality
Egypt’s qualifying campaign showcased their balance and discipline. Conceding only two goals while scoring 12 highlights a side that is both defensively robust and efficient in attack. Mohamed Salah remains the focal point, offering leadership, goals and creativity, while Mahmoud Trezeguet provides additional firepower from wide areas.
Zimbabwe, meanwhile, return to AFCON after missing the previous edition but still carry an unenviable record. They have never progressed beyond the group stage, have never kept a clean sheet at the finals, and have never won their opening AFCON match. While experienced figures like Knowledge Musona bring leadership, history suggests they often struggle to cope with elite African opposition, especially early in tournaments.
Match outlook
Given Egypt’s experience, superior squad depth and strong recent record against Zimbabwe, this fixture looks set up for a controlled performance from the Pharaohs. Zimbabwe may show resilience, but over 90 minutes Egypt’s structure and attacking quality should prove decisive.
Tip: 1
