Egypt grind out win to launch Africa Cup of Nations

Mohamed Salah's Egypt started their bid for a record-extending eighth Africa Cup of Nations trophy on Friday with a 1-0 win over Zimbabwe in Cairo in the opening game of a tournament expanded to 24 teams and played in June and July for the first time.

Liverpool star Salah, on a redemption mission with Egypt after injury derailed a miserable World Cup campaign last year, looked sharp although the hosts needed a 41st-minute goal by Mahmoud 'Trezeguet' Hassan to get off to a winning start in Group A.

Man of the match Mahmoud Alaa said after the victory: "I congratulate all the Egyptian people on the first win."
The defender added: "We should be better in the upcoming matches. Our aim in this competition is to win the title."
- Trezeguet rises to the occasion -
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Assistant coach Hany Ramzy said: "These are the first three points in a long competition. The match was difficult, and maybe at some stages we made it hard on ourselves."