AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS 2019 prediction tv stream

General View of graphics depicting Mohamed Salah and members of the Egyptian team in Cairo. Photo: BackpagePix

Afcon 2019: Egypt vs Zimbabwe – time, prediction, head-to-head and TV stream

The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off with hosts Egypt taking on Zimbabwe. Here’s what you need to know.

by Alexis Haden

20-06-2019 18:00

in Soccer

General View of graphics depicting Mohamed Salah and members of the Egyptian team in Cairo. Photo: BackpagePix

Africa Cup of Nations hosts Egypt are confident of defeating Zimbabwe Friday in the opening match of a tournament expanded to 24 teams and staged in mid-year for the first time.

Egypt lie 51 places higher on the world rankings ahead of the Group A clash, top the title betting at 5/1 with Zimbabwe 150/1, and have won three of the four previous Cup of Nations they hosted.

Afcon live scores: Egypt vs Zimbabwe

“We are the favourites to win the 2019 Africa Cup,” said 60-year-old coach Javier Aguirre, the first Mexican to guide a nation that has won the competition a record seven times.
“Egypt are playing at home, can count on passionate support and have Mohamed Salah, the best footballer in Africa.”

Salah has returned home after another stellar season with Liverpool, which he completed by scoring the first goal in a 2-0 Champions League final triumph over Tottenham Hotspur.

Get all the latest fixtures and results from Group A here.

But Zimbabwe were boorish and they are daring to dream.

Tino Kadewere admitted to rooting for Salah and Liverpool in this season’s Premier League title race,but the Zimbabwe forward will be looking to upstage the Egypt in the opening fixture.

This will be Zimbabwe’s fourth appearance, but the striker is full of confidence in Cairo. The squad looks much different to the one that exited in the group stage two years ago with just a point after a tough draw that placed them alongside Senegal, Tunisia and Algeria.

“In 2017 we had a few experienced players but now it’s more of a young squad. It is a new generation,” Kadewere told AFP.
“It’s a whole new squad. We have been together for quite a while now, and we have been doing well since last year when we played the Cosafa Cup.”

“Everyone in Zimbabwe really wants us to try and get to the knock-out stages,” said Kadewere, who just completed his first season in French football with second division side Le Havre after three years in Sweden.

Egypt vs Zimbabwe: Prediction, head-to-head and TV stream

Prediction: Stranger things happen in football, especially African football. Egypt are firm favourites, though. The hosts have an 81% chance of winning. The draw is the next most likely outcome while Zim’s probable chance of winning is just three per cent.