Vitoria’s lineup choices for Egypt in the African Cup of Nations opener raised eyebrows, leaving fans questioning his selection strategy.
Some key players were notably absent example Kahraba & Emam Ashour in the starting line up and the team seemed to lack the necessary cohesion on the pitch The coach now faces scrutiny as Egypt seeks to bounce back in the tournament.
Despite being heavily favored against Mozambique, Egypt had to battle for a draw, securing a crucial point through Mohamed Salah’s injury-time penalty. The unexpected challenge highlighted the team’s resilience in a hard-fought match.
In the second minute, Mostafa Mohamed propelled Egypt to an early lead with a precisely placed shot from beyond the area. This goal, coming in at just 99 seconds, stands as the quickest in the current tournament and the second-fastest in the competition’s history.
Match Stats
Despite high expectations, Egypt struggled to make an impression during the match, enabling Mozambique to pose threats, especially from the flanks.
In the second half, Witness Ouembo leveled the score for Mozambique with a well-executed header in the 55th minute.
A mere three minutes later, Clesio Bauque took advantage of a defensive lapse, securing a second goal and doubling Mozambique’s lead.
Despite introducing several attacking-minded players, Egypt faced difficulties intensifying their offense and failed to make a significant impact. Their only notable threat occurred in the 77th minute when Hamdi Fathi’s shot hit the post.
As Egypt faced the prospect of an unexpected defeat against Mozambique, Mostafa Mohamed drew a foul in the area and was subsequently awarded a penalty following a VAR check.
Stepping up to the spot, Mohamed Salah successfully converted the penalty, salvaging Egypt from defeat in their inaugural match.
Looking ahead, Egypt is set to encounter Ghana on Thursday, with Mozambique taking on Cape Verde earlier in the day.
The less-than-convincing performance by the Pharaohs has cast doubts on their prospects of clinching their eagerly anticipated eighth African title.
