Mohamed Salah scored a 91st-minute winner as Egypt came from behind against Zimbabwe to claim all three points in their opening CAN 2025 match.
Salah’s strike came after Manchester City striker Omar Marmoush’s second-half equalizer after Prince Dube gave Zimbabwe a shock lead before the break.
Egypt, one of the favorites to go all the way in Morocco, had not lost this match for over 30 years and their two Premier League stars ensured that record remained intact to join South Africa, who beat Angola, at the top of Group B.
All eyes were on Pharaohs captain Salah, who has had a rather turbulent few weeks at Liverpool following his outburst in the aftermath of their 3-3 draw at Leeds on December 6.
And it was the 33-year-old who contributed the game’s first chance. From Salah’s curling cross to the far post, Mahmoud Trezeguet’s header was on target but Zimbabwe goalkeeper Washington Arubi managed to parry the ball to safety.
Moments later, it was Emam Ashour’s turn to go close when the Al Ahly man went wide from eight yards.
But in the 20th minute, Zimbabwe opened the scoring completely against the run of play, with Dube firing into the bottom corner after turning perfectly into the box.
Egypt was stunned. Five minutes later, the lead was almost doubled when a mistake by goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy almost allowed Washington Navaya to deflect the ball into the empty goal.
Marmoush then put in some effort as the striker looked to drag the 2006 champions back into the game.
The Manchester City man did just that shortly after the hour mark. Right-back Godknows Murwira switched off at the crucial moment, allowing Marmoush through on goal and he made no mistake, firing an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net.
From there, Egypt took over its opponents. Zizo wasted a glorious chance to complete the return, but headed in from four yards.
But, just when they thought they had squandered their chance at victory, Salah stepped up in the 91st minute to snatch all three points for his country when he swiveled and fired a left-footed shot into the net to spark jubilant celebrations on the Egyptian bench.
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Egypt team against Zimbabwe
Omar Marmoush led the line for Egypt, while veteran goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy could be playing in his final Africa Cup of Nations after a career that included several continental titles at club level with Al Ahly.
Egypt starting lineup: Mohamed El Shenawy, Mohamed Hany, Hossam Abdelmaguid, Yasser Ibrahim, Mohamed Hamdy, Mohamed Salah, Marwan Attia, Emam Ashour, Hamdi Fathy, Trezeguet, Omar Marmoush
Egypt replaces: Ahmed El Shenawy, Khaled Sobhy, Rami Rabia, Salah Mohsen, Mostafa Mohamed, Ahmed Abou El Fotouh, Mohamed Shehata, Mohanad Lasheen, Mostafa Fathi, Ibrahim Adel, Osama Faisal, Ahmed Eid, Zizo, Mostafa Shobeir, Mahmoud Saber
Zimbabwe team against Egypt
Zimbabwe were without Walter Musona, who scored twice in qualifying. Experienced striker Knowledge Musona, who has 26 international goals, started on the bench.
Zimbabwe starting lineup: Washington Arubi, Godknows Murwira, Munashe Garan’anga, Gerald Takwara, Teenage Hadebe, Emmanuel Jalai, Jonah Fabisch, Marvelous Nakamba, Prince Dube, Daniel Msendami, Washington Navaya
Zimbabwe substitutes: Elvis Chipezeze, Sean Fusire, Divine Lunga, Prosper Padera, Macauley Bonne, Bill Antonio, Brendan Galloway, Knowledge Musona, Tawanda Maswanhise, Tawanda Chirewa, Isheanesu Mauchi, Alec Mudimu, Ishmael Wadi, Junior Zindoga, Tadiwa Chakuchichi
How to watch CAN 2025: TV channel, live stream online
In the UK, live coverage of CAN 2025 is broadcast on Channel 4’s 4seven, All 4 and YouTube channels. In the US, beIN Sports is the tournament broadcaster.
Live online streaming is available on a wide range of devices via the Channel 4 website and app and the beIN Sports app.
Egypt team for CAN 2025
Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy (Al Ahly), Ahmed El Shenawy (Pyramids), Mostafa Shobeir (Al Ahly), Mohamed Sobhy (Zamalek).
Defenders: Mohamed Hany (Al Ahly), Ahmed Eid (Al Masry), Ramy Rabia (Al Ain), Khaled Sobhi (Al Masry), Yasser Ibrahim (Al Ahly), Mohamed Ismail (Zamalek), Hossam Abdelmaguid (Zamalek), Mohamed Hamdy (Pyramids), Ahmed Fatouh (Zamalek).
Midfield: Marwan Attia (Al Ahly), Hamdi Fathy (Al Wakrah), Mohanad Lasheen (Pyramids), Mahmoud Saber (Zed), Mohamed Shehata (Zamalek), Emam Ashour (Al Ahly), Zizo (Al Ahly), Trezeguet (Al Ahly), Ibrahim Adel (Al Jazira), Mostafa Fathi (Pyramids).
Advantages: Omar Marmoush (Manchester City), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Mostafa Mohamed (Nantes), Salah Mohsen (Al Masry), Osama Faisal (Al Ahly Bank).
Zimbabwe team for CAN 2025
Goalkeepers: Washington Arubi (Marumo Gallants), Elvis Chipezeze (Magesi), Martin Mapisa (MWOS FC).
Defenders: Godknows Murwira (Scotland), Emmanuel Jalai (Dynamos FC), Sean Fusire (Sheffield Wednesday), Munashe Garananga (FC Copenhagen), Gerald Takwara (Al Ittihad Misurata), Isheanesu Mauchi (Simba Bora), Brendon Galloway (Plymouth Argyle), Teenage Hadebe (FC Cincinnati), Alec Mudimu (Flint Town United), Divine Lunga (Mamelodi Sundowns).
Midfield: Marvelous Nakamba (Luton Town), Jonah Fabisch (Erzgebirg Aue), Andy Rinomhota (Reading), Prosper Padera (SJK Seinajoki), Tawanda Chirewa (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Knowledge Musona (Scotland)
Advantages: Bill Antonio (KV Mechelen), Ishmael Wadi (CAPS United), Tawanda Maswanhise (Motherwell), Daniel Msendami (Marumo Gallants), Prince Dube (Young Africans), Washington Navaya (TelOne FC), Macauley Bonne (Maldon & Tiptree), Junior Zindoga (TS Galaxy), Tadiwanashe Chakuchichi (Scotland).
Which are the host cities for CAN 2025?
Agadir – Grand Stade d’Agadir (capacity – 41,144)
Casablanca – Mohammed V Sports Complex (45,000)
Fes – Fes Sports Complex (35,468)
Marrakech – Grand Stade de Marrakech (41,245)
Rabat – Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex (69,500)
Rabat – Al Barid Stadium (18,000)
Rabat – Olympic Stadium Annex Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex (21,000)
Rabat – Prince Heritier Sports Complex Moulay EL Hassan (22,000)
Tangier – Grand Stade de Tangier (75,600)
CAN 2025 schedule, full schedule of the African Cup of Nations
Sunday December 21, 2025
- Group A: Morocco 2-0 Comoros (Rabat)
Monday December 22, 2025
- Group A: Mali 1-1 Zambia (Casablanca)
- Group B: South Africa – Angola (Marrakech, 5:00 p.m.)
- Group B: Egypt – Zimbabwe (Agadir, 8:00 p.m.)
Tuesday December 23, 2025
- Group D: Senegal – Botswana (Tangier, 12:30 p.m.)
- Group D: DR Congo – Benin (Rabat, 3:00 p.m.)
- Group C: Nigeria – Tanzania (Fez, 5:30 p.m.)
- Group C: Tunisia – Uganda (Rabat, 8:00 p.m.)
Wednesday December 24, 2025
- Group E: Burkina Faso – Equatorial Guinea (Casablanca, 12:30 p.m.)
- Group E: Algeria – Sudan (Rabat, 3:00 p.m.)
- Group F: Ivory Coast – Mozambique (Marrakech, 5:30 p.m.)
- Group F: Cameroon – Gabon (Agadir, 8:00 p.m.)
Friday December 26, 2025
- Group B: Angola – Zimbabwe (Marrakech, 12:30 p.m.)
- Group B: Egypt – South Africa (Agadir, 3:00 p.m.)
- Group A: Zambia – Comoros (Casablanca, 5:30 p.m.)
- Group A: Morocco – Mali (Rabat, 8:00 p.m.)
Saturday December 27, 2025
- Group D: Benin – Botswana (Rabat, 12:30 p.m.)
- Group D: Senegal – DR Congo (Tangier, 3:00 p.m.)
- Group C: Uganda – Tanzania (Rabat 3, 5:30 p.m.)
- Group C: Nigeria – Tunisia (Fez, 8:00 p.m.)
Sunday December 28, 2025
- Group F: Gabon vs Mozambique (Agadir, 12:30)
- Group E: Equatorial Guinea – Sudan (Casablanca, 3:00 p.m.)
- Group E: Algeria – Burkina Faso (Rabat, 5:30 p.m.)
- Group F: Ivory Coast – Cameroon, (Marrakech, 8:00 p.m.)
Monday December 29, 2025
- Group B: Angola – Egypt (Agadir, 4:00 p.m.)
- Group B: Zimbabwe – South Africa (Marrakech, 4:00 p.m.)
- Group A: Comoros – Mali (Casablanca, 7:00 p.m.)
- Group A: Zambia – Morocco (Rabat, 7:00 p.m.)
Tuesday December 30, 2025
- Group C: Tanzania – Tunisia (Rabat, 4:00 p.m.)
- Group C: Uganda – Nigeria (Fez, 4:00 p.m.)
- Group D: Benin – Senegal (Tangier, 7:00 p.m.)
- Group D: Botswana – DR Congo (Rabat, 7:00 p.m.)
Wednesday December 31, 2025
- Group E: Equatorial Guinea – Algeria (Rabat, 4:00 p.m.)
- Group E: Sudan – Burkina Faso (Casablanca, 4:00 p.m.)
- Group F: Gabon – Ivory Coast (Marrakech, 7:00 p.m.)
- Group F: Mozambique vs Cameroon (Agadir, 7:00 p.m.)
2025 African Cup of Nations, round of 16
Saturday January 3, 2026
- SR1: winner of Group D vs third of Group B/E/F (Tangier, 4:00 p.m.)
- SR2: Group A finalists vs Group C finalists (Casablanca, 7:00 p.m.)
Sunday January 4
- SR3: Winner of Group A vs third in Group C/D/E (Rabat, 4:00 p.m.)
- SR4: Vice-champion of Group B vs Vice-champion of Group F (Rabat, 7:00 p.m.)
Monday January 5
- SR5: winner of group B vs third of group A/C/D (Agadir, 6 p.m.)
- SR6: winners of Group C vs thirds of Groups A/B/F (Fez, 8:30 p.m.)
Tuesday January 6
- SR7: Winners of Group E vs finalists of Group D (Rabat 2, 6 p.m.)
- SR8: winners of Group F vs vice-champions of Group E (Marrakech, 8:30 p.m.)
Quarter-finals of the 2025 African Cup of Nations
Friday January 9
- QF1: Winner SR2 vs Winner SR1 (Tangier, 4:00 p.m.)
- QF2: Winner SR4 vs Winner SR3 (Rabat, 7:00 p.m.)
Saturday January 10
- QF3: Winner SR7 vs Winner SR6 (Marrakech, 4:00 p.m.)
- QF4: Winner SR5 vs Winner SR8 (Agadir, 7:00 p.m.)
2025 African Cup of Nations semi-finals
Wednesday January 14
- SF1: Winner QF1 vs Winner QF4 (Tangier, 5:00 p.m.)
- SF2: Winner QF3 vs Winner QF2 (Rabat, 8:00 p.m.)
2025 Africa Cup of Nations third place match
Saturday January 17
- SF1 vs SF2 losers (Casablanca, 4:00 p.m.)
2025 African Cup of Nations Final
Sunday January 18
- Winners SF1 vs SF2 (Rabat, 7:00 p.m.)
