Plymouth Argyle defender Brendan Galloway was an unused substitute as Zimbabwe were narrowly beaten 2–1 by Egypt in a dramatic Africa Cup of Nations opener.
The Warriors produced an impressive first-half display and went into the break with a deserved lead. Prince Dube struck midway through the opening half, scoring against the run of play after Zimbabwe soaked up early pressure from the Pharaohs.
Egypt responded strongly after the interval, increasing their tempo and committing more players forward. The pressure paid off in the 64th minute when Omar Marmoush levelled the score with a well-taken finish.
Zimbabwe defended deep for long periods and looked set to earn a valuable point, but heartbreak followed late on. In stoppage time, Mohamed Salah scored the decisive goal to secure victory for Egypt.
Despite the defeat, Zimbabwe’s performance was widely seen as encouraging, with the team showing organisation, resilience and belief against one of Africa’s most experienced sides.
Galloway’s next opportunity to feature in the tournament could come on Friday when Zimbabwe face Angola at 12:30 GMT. The match is crucial for the Warriors as they look to keep their AFCON hopes alive.
The possible inclusion of Galloway would add further strength and experience to Zimbabwe’s defence, as they prepare to deal with Angola’s attacking threat. Confidence remains high within the Zimbabwe camp, with players buoyed by their opening performance and closely watching developments elsewhere in the group, including the clash between South Africa and Egypt.
With everything still to play for, Zimbabwe know that a positive result against Angola could reignite their campaign and keep them firmly in the race for progression.
