Hosts Egypt make winning start to Africa Cup of Nations

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Group A - Egypt v Zimbabwe - Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 21, 2019 Egypt's Mohamed Salah in action with Zimbabwe's Knowledge Musona REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

CAIRO (Reuters) - Mahmoud Trezeguet handed hosts Egypt a winning start to the Africa Cup of Nations with the only goal of Friday's opening game against Zimbabwe in a high tempo start to the tournament.

His 41st-minute strike proved decisive as Egypt missed out on a myriad of chances to make a bigger impact but will be satisfied to have taken the first three point haul of the month-long event.

Trezeguet's finish overshadowed a return to Cairo for Champions League winner Mohamed Salah, whose every touch was loudly cheered but who had a frustrating evening as he could not convert his chances.

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Group A - Egypt v Zimbabwe - Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 21, 2019 Egypt's Mohamed Salah in action with Zimbabwe's Knowledge Musona REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

A packed crowd of 70,000 – many of whom had queued from up to 12 hours before kick off to enter the stadium – ensured a heady atmosphere at the Cairo International Stadium.

Zimbabwe looked to feel the pressure as Egypt had ample opportunity to take an early lead.

Zimbabwe's goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda had a busy start with two saves inside the opening three minutes -- both times touching the ball clear of his goal from headed efforts.

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Group A - Egypt v Zimbabwe - Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 21, 2019 Egypt's Ayman Ashraf in action with Zimbabwe's Marvelous Nakamba REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

Salah was involved in a slick passing move in the ninth minute that offered Abdallah El Said a chance to score the tournament's opening goal but again Sibanda saved well.

El Said then blasted wide with a similar chance from close range just three minutes later.

Salah's first effort came after 17 minutes as he cut in from the byline but had only a tight angle to work with and put it wide of the target.

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Group A - Egypt v Zimbabwe - Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 21, 2019 Egypt's Abdallah El Said in action with Zimbabwe's Marshall Munetsi REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Egypt had a scare as Zimbabwe took a quick free kick that caught the home defence napping but not goalkeeper Mohamed El Shennawi, who came out timely to smoother the opportunity.

Then Trezequet broke the deadlock.

Picking up the ball out wide, he collected it back inside the penalty area after a short pass, and then made a body check to shake off the defence and open room for himself to fire home a curling shot that gave Sibanda no chance.

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Group A - Egypt v Zimbabwe - Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 21, 2019 Egypt's Mahmoud Alaa in action with Zimbabwe's Nyasha Mushekwi REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

Salah, who showed no signs of post-season fatigue after a long campaign with Liverpool, had Egypt's best chances of the second half but continued to be thwarted as Zimbabwe finished stronger. Ovidy Kararu's powerful shot was the closest they came to an equaliser, but it was saved by El Shennawi.

The Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda -- the other two teams in Group A -- will get their campaign underway on Saturday.

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Group A - Egypt v Zimbabwe - Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 21, 2019 Egypt's Trezeguet celebrates scoring their first goal with Ahmed Hegazi and team mates REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

(Reporting by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Christian Radnedge)

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Group A - Egypt v Zimbabwe - Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 21, 2019 Zimbabwe's Nyasha Mushekwi in action with Egypt's Ayman Ashraf REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Group A - Egypt v Zimbabwe - Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 21, 2019 Zimbabwe's Edmore Sibanda in action REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Group A - Egypt v Zimbabwe - Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 21, 2019 Egypt's Mohamed Salah shakes hands with Zimbabwe's Teenage Hadebe after the match REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Group A - Egypt v Zimbabwe - Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 21, 2019 Egypt's Ayman Ashraf in action with Zimbabwe's Tendayi Darikwa REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Group A - Egypt v Zimbabwe - Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 21, 2019 Egypt's Trezeguet in action with Zimbabwe's Knowledge Musona REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Group A - Egypt v Zimbabwe - Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 21, 2019 Egypt's Trezeguet celebrates scoring their first goal with Mohamed Elneny and team mates REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Group A - Egypt v Zimbabwe - Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 21, 2019 Egypt fans during the match REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Group A - Egypt v Zimbabwe - Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 21, 2019 Egypt fans during the match REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh