Egypt vs Zimbabwe prediction: AFRICA: Africa Cup of Nations betting tips on match 2025-12-21 20:00.
[p]Egypt, the most successful country in Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) history, take on highly unfavoured Zimbabwe on matchday one in Group B as the tournamentâs 2025 edition gets underway.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Seven-time AFCON winners Egypt breezed through qualifying unbeaten (W4, D2), and are unsurprisingly among the pre-tournament favourites this winter. Manager Hossam Hassan will know how much pressure rests on his shoulders to lead them to AFCON glory for the first time since 2010 having seen his predecessor Rui VitĂłria sacked on the back of a damaging last 16 exit to DR Congo in the 2023 edition. Their preparations havenât been the best for this tournament though, as Hassanâs side hadnât won inside 90 minutes in five matches prior to a 2-1 victory over Nigeria in their final warm-up game for this tournament (D3, L2)Â [/p]
[p]Zimbabwe have featured in just five editions of AFCON previously, and werenât involved in 2023 due to a FIFA-imposed suspension relating to the interference of their government. Having seen that ban lifted, the Warriors squeezed into 2025âs finals as runners-up in their qualifying group (W2, D3, L1), but their preparation for the finals has been less than ideal. A 2-1 warm-up victory over Qatar last time out was just their second win in 17 matches (D6, L9), a run which contributed to Michael Neesâ sacking in November, with Mario MarinicÄ now leading the second-least favoured side in the whole tournament.[/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]Egypt have won each of the last six H2Hs and are unbeaten in the last nine meetings overall (W7, D2).[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Four of Egyptâs last five games saw both teams score.[/p]
[p]Egypt have received at least two yellow cards in four of their last five competitive games.[/p]
[p]Zimbabwe havenât scored first in any of their last six games.[/p]
[p]Zimbabwe have received at least three yellow cards in three of their last four competitive games.[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]This could be Mohamed Salahâs last chance to deliver AFCON glory to Egypt, and he tends to take time to get going on the international scene, netting with seven of his last ten Egypt goals after half-time, including his two in qualifying. Wolves youngster Tawanda Chirewa has scored three international goals for Zimbabwe, each of which arrived in the first or last five minutes of the game.[/p]
[p]Neither side appear to have any fresh injury concerns ahead of this opening group game, but Zimbabwe havenât included Wolves midfielder and vice-captain Marshall Munetsi in their squad due to fitness concerns.[/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]Egypt should be able to assert their dominance, so we think thereâs great value in backing them to score in both halves.[/p]
[p][i]Author: Ben Olawumi[/i][/p]