Full time: Egypt 1-0 Zimbabwe
The referee blows his final whistle, Egypt secure an opening 1-0 win. Thanks for following our live updates!
90' The referee adds four minutes of stoppage time.
89' At the other end, Rusike rises unmarked but his poor header goes high over.
87' Salah wastes another chance! He runs onto a through ball behind the defence but his shot with his weak right foot is saved by Chipezeze.
85' Zimbabwe make their final substitution. Talent Chawapiwa replaces Musona.
83' The impressive Billiat bamboozles two challengers with an eye-catching feint. His subsequent through pass is intercepted by Ayman Ashraf.
81' Another substitution for Zimbabwe. Evans Rusike replaces Mushekwi.
80' The third substitution for Egypt. Holding midfielder Nabil Emad replaces Trezeguet.
80' Zimbabwe make their first substitution after keeper Sibanda suffers an injury. He makes way for Elvis Chipezeze.
77' Egypt keeper El-Shennawi collects a long-range shot from Karuru.
76' Salah's presecne is hardly felt after he was moved to a lone striker position.
74' A second half to forget for the Egyptians!
71' Egypt make another substitution. Greek-based winger Amr Warda replaces Abdallah El-Said.
71' Munetsi sends hopeful long-range shot that misses the target.
68' Salah once again tries to score directly from a corner but his effort goes over the crossbar.
67' A goal-scoring chance wasted by Salah! He is released by a superb threaded pass from Trezeguet but his right-foot shot is thwarted by Sibanda at his near post.
64' Egypt notably ease off in the second half.
61' Egypt make their first substitution. Ahly's veteran winger Walid Soliman replaces ineffective striker Mohsen.
59' Marwan Mohsen tries to control a chipped pass from Elmohamady with his back to goal but his attempt lets him down and Sibanda clears the danger.
58' Despite his little international experience, Egypt's Mahmoud Alaa is putting in a superb display at the back, making some timely tackles.
56' Zimbabwe gain more possession, moving the ball around swiftly.
53' Abdallah El-Saied's threaded pass eludes a defender but Salah fails to get on the end of it.
50' Another curling effort, this time from Salah, is easily collected by the keeper.
50' Trezeguet tries his luck from distance and his fine curling shot is tipped away by Sibanda.
48' Salah is still finding it difficult to shake off his markers.
46' Egypt will need to up their game and score a second to kill off Zimbabwe's hopes.
The second half is underway
The referee blows his halftime whistle
45' The referee adds two minutes of stoppage time.
42' A low effort from Salah from the edge the area goes wide.
41' Mahmoud Trezeguet opens Egypt's account at the Nations Cup in superb fashion! He exchanges passes with left-back Ayman Ashraf, cuts inside his marker and plants a right-foot shot into the far corner.
41' GOOOOOOAL FOR EGYPT!!
37' What a chance for Zimbabwe! A quickly-taken free kick releases Billiat who breaks clear but El-Shennawi rushes out to block his shot for a corner.
34' Salah floats a corner to the far post but a mis-hit header from Mahmoud Alaa goes out for a goal kick.
31' At the other end, a volley from Zimbabwe's Musona goes wide after a long ball.
30' Salah tries to create space for himself under pressure but could only send a low shot into the hands of Sibanda.
28' Zimbabwe look composed in defence and when they gain possession.
25' Mahmoud Alaa makes a sliding tackle to block a shot from Musona.
24' Mohsen just fails to get on the end of a low cross from Salah as Egypt intensify their pressure.
22' A chance for Egypt! A loose ball rolls into the path of Marwan Mohsen but his left-foot volley from a narrow angle goes high over.
21' A cross from Elmohamady goes begging.
19' Salah repeatedly drops deep to start Egypt's build-up.
17' Salah tries his luck from a tight angle but his shot goes high over the crossbar.
16' Zimbabwe grow bolder as the match progresses.
12' Another goal-scoring opportunity for Egypt! Elmohamady's pull back finds the unmarked Abdallah El-Said in the area but the playmaker's side-footed effort misses the target.
11' Egypt keeper El-Shennawi is awarded a foul after a Zimbabwe cross. Zimbabwe are finding gaps in Egypt's defence when they launch counter attacks.
9' A chance for Egypt after a flowing move! Salah neatly exchanges passes with Abdallah El-Said, who receives a lay-off from Marwan Mohsen with a right-foot shot that is palmed away by Sibanda.
8' Another corner from Egypt is pushed away by Sibanda.
5' Zimbabwe are awarded the first corner after Karuru's attempted cross is blocked by defender Mahmoud Alaa.
4' Egypt make a strong start to the game, with Zimbabwe defending in numbers in the early stages.
2' The first chance for Egypt! Another Salah cross finds Marwan Mohsen whose looping header it tipped over the bar by keeper Sibanda.
2' Mohamed Salah whips in a cross from the right that is pushed away by the keeper for a corner!
The match is underway
Egypt's starting XI: Mohamed El-Shennawi - Ahmed Elmohamady, Mahmoud Alaa, Ahmed Hegazi, Ayman Ashraf - Tarek Hamed, Mohamed Elneny, Abdallah El-Said - Mohamed Salah, Mahmoud "Trezeguet" Hassan, Marwan Mohsen.
Zimbabwe's starting line-up: Sibanda, Darikwa, Lunga, Mudimu, Hadebe, Munetsi, Nakamba, Karuru, Musona, Billiat, Mushekwi
21:55 Both sides step onto the pitch and line up for the national anthem. The Nations Cup is about to kick-off!
21:45 Aguirre makes a change to his starting line-up, introducing Ahly's Ayman Ashraf as a left-back. The Egyptian FA earlier announced that Ahmed Mansour would start on the left of the four-man defence.
21:25 Egypt players step onto the pitch for the pre-game warm-up.
21:20 Mo Salah told beIN Sports before the game that he is eager to win his first Nations Cup title with Egypt, having gone so close in the previous edition in 2017 when the team lost to Cameroon in the final.
20:50 The tournament's official song is now being performed.
20:40 Egypt coach Aguirre springs two surprises. Zamalek's central defender Mahmoud Alaa starts instead of Ismaily's Baher El-Mohamadi and Ahmed Mansour is deployed as a left-back instead of Ayman Ashraf.
20:30 Opening Ceremony is underway
20:15 Egypt President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi arrives in Cairo Stadium
20:00 We are getting ready for the opening ceremony.
19:00 Thousands of people have gathered for the game.
Egypt supporters make their way to the stadium ahead of the opening football match (Photo: AFP)
18:30 Gates of the stadium are now closed and the crowd will be ready for the opening ceremony that will start at 8pm Cairo time (GMT+2)
17:30 Billiat shakes off an injury in time to make Zimbabwe's starting XI.
17:00 Zimbabwe star Khama Billiat is doubtful for the game after picking up a slight knee injury.
15:30 Zimbabwe players refused to train on Thursday evening in row over their unpaid dues. They are demanding to be paid their allowances for the African Cup, along with allowances and match fees still owed to them from a regional tournament last month. Issue has been solved and they trained earlier on Friday.
14:15 Egypt's probable starting line-up:
Goalkeeper:Mohamed El-Shennawi
Defenders:Ayman Ashraf, Mahmoud Alaa (Baher El-Mohamadi), Ahmed Hegazi, Ahmed Elmohamady.
Midfielders:Tarek Hamed, Mohamed Elneny.
Attacking midfielders:Mahmoud Trezeguet, Abdallah El-Said, Mohamed Salah.
Striker: Marwan Mohsen
13:30 Zimbabwe players boycotted Thursday's training session on the eve of Nations Cup debut against Egypt until they receive their unpaid wages and bonuses while the team's officials contained the situation and got the team ready for the game.
13:00 Head-to-head Egypt vs Zimbabwe:
Matches: 12
Won: 7
Lost: 1
Draws: 4
Goals scored: 20
Goals conceded: 11
11:30 Egypt national football team will be looking to make a strong start to their bid for a record-extending eighth crown when they face the unfancied Zimbabwe.
Venue: Cairo international Stadium
Check the match preview here
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