Galatasaray striker Mostafa Mohamed came off the bench in the second half to score a 87th-minute winner via a wicked deflection as Egypt kicked off their qualifying campaign with a home victory to give new coach Ehab Galal a winning start.
The Pharaohs struggled to impose their rhythm against an inspired Naby Keita Guinea team, who came close to scoring on a couple of occasions in the second half.
"What's important in these games is winning. It was a difficult game and a victory at the start of the qualifiers is very important," Ahly's Afsha, who was also introduced in the second half, told beIN sports after the game.
"We know it wasn't our best performance but we will improve and we need some time, especially that we just had four training sessions with new coach Galal."
Galal, who took over last month following the departure of veteran Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz, will hope to make a better impression in Egypt's second Group D game against Ethiopia on Thursday.
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