Egypt vs Zimbabwe: Prediction, H2H and probable lineups — December 22, 2025
On Monday, December 22, in the opening round of the Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt will square off against Zimbabwe. Read on for a detailed breakdown of both teams and a match prediction in our preview below.
See also: Mali vs Zambia prediction and betting tips 22 December 2025
Match preview
Egypt heads into their clash with Zimbabwe as one of the tournament favorites, having meticulously prepared for the competition. The group also features South Africa and Angola, fixtures that promise to be more challenging for Egypt. The Pharaohs enjoyed a solid build-up to the tournament, highlighted by a 2-1 friendly victory over Nigeria, showcasing their ability to create chances and dictate the tempo for large stretches of the match. Egypt barely dropped points in World Cup qualifying, employing a flexible tactical approach centered on possession and intricate passing combinations.
In attack, Egypt consistently strikes a balance between pace and technical skill. The team excels at short passing sequences in midfield and quickly transitions the ball forward. Mohamed Salah, despite his recent struggles at Liverpool, remains the linchpin—he's involved in the majority of Egypt's attacking moves, generating danger and keeping opposing defenses on high alert.
Zimbabwe, on the other hand, is a less decorated opponent—while they regularly qualify for the finals, they've never been serious contenders to advance past the group stage. Historical stats show the "Warriors" have never won their opening AFCON game, and their campaigns typically end in the group phase. Zimbabwe has yet to break through to the knockout rounds at the African championships, a testament to the gulf in experience and competitive pedigree between these teams.
Furthermore, Zimbabwe enters the tournament hampered by personnel issues: several key players, including Marshall Munetsi and Jordan Zemura, are sidelined due to injuries, a blow particularly felt in midfield and in maintaining the balance between attack and defense. This limits their options, especially under sustained pressure from opponents. Zimbabwe will aim to stay compact, rely on counterattacks, and avoid early mistakes in central areas, but they lack the tools to impose their style against such a well-organized side.
Probable lineups
Egypt: El Shenawy; Hany, Rabia, Ibrahim, Hamdi; Fathy, Ateya, Zizo; Salah, Mohamed, Trezeguet
Zimbabwe: Chipezeze; Murwira, Garananga, Hadebe, Lunga; Nakamba, Fabisch, Musona; Chirewa, Dube, Maswanhise
Match facts and head-to-head
- Egypt have won all of their last five matches
- Egypt have won two of their last five matches, one of them on penalties
- Zimbabwe have won just two of their last ten encounters, losing six
Prediction
Egypt look like the more cohesive side, controlling possession and attacking proactively to create a wealth of dangerous chances. My prediction: Asian handicap Egypt (-1) at 1.55
