The most successful team in Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) history begin their campaign on Sunday when Egypt take on Mozambique in the opening game of Group B for both sides.
The Mambas are yet to win at AFCON in 12 matches, while Egypt have been champions seven times and reached the final in 2021, losing to Senegal on penalties in Cameroon.
Much of the attention is likely to fall upon Egypt superstar Mohamed Salah when the Liverpool forward starts the tournament with his country at Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in the Ivorian city of Abidjan.
Egypt’s seven games at AFCON 2021 yielded a total of six goals, and prolific Salah will be targeting a more open encounter as he bids to improve on a personal total of two across those matches.
The Sporting News is following the match live and providing updates and highlights below.
MORE: Which Liverpool players are at AFCON?
Egypt vs Mozambique live score
| 1st half | Goal scorers | |
| Egypt | Mostafa Mohamed (2) | — |
| Mozambique | — | — |
Starting lineups:
Egypt (4-3-3): El Shenawy (GK) – Hamdi, Hegazy, Abdelmonem, Hany – Zizo, Fathi, Elneny – Trezeguet, Salah, Mohamed.
Mozambique (4-4-1-1): Siluane (GK) – Reinildo, Dove, Mexer, Domingos – Witi, Amade, Guima, Gildo – Domingues – Ratifo
Egypt vs Mozambique live updates, highlights, commentary
7 mins: Egypt 1-0 Mozambique
Mozambique attempt a diagonal long ball, bouncing inside Egypt’s penalty area and behind.
5 mins: Egypt 1-0 Mozambique
Coming into this year’s competition, Mozambique had failed to score in 75% of their AFCON matches (nine out of 12) – the highest ratio among any team to have played at least 10 matches at the tournament.
Chiquinho Conde has a job on his hands to change that.
3 mins: Egypt 1-0 Mozambique
Mohamed Salah will receive an assist for that goal, although he might not have intended it to be a pass.
The Liverpool striker took aim but mishit the ball inside the penalty area, inadvertently shifting it the way of Mostafa Mohamed to his right, who turned beautifully away from Edmilson Dove and fired a shot on the turn into the far corner of the net!
2 mins: GOAL – Egypt 1-0 Mozambique (Mostafa Mohamed)
Sensational start for Egypt!
1 min: Egypt 0-0 Mozambique
Egypt begin the action, keeping possession inside their own half for the opening 45 seconds.
They’re in red shirts and white shorts, while Mozambique are all in yellow.
2 mins to kickoff: Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Mozambique captain Domingues exchange niceties in the centre of the pitch. We’re almost ready to go!
20 mins to kickoff: Confirmation of those lineups…
📋 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐗𝐈 📋
This is how The Pharaohs and The Mambas are facing-off in their first #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 game! #EGYMOZ pic.twitter.com/gr44EXF1L9
— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 14, 2024
40 mins to kickoff: Team news! Here’s how the sides start…
Egypt (4-3-3): El Shenawy (GK) – Hamdi, Hegazy, Abdelmonem, Hany – Zizo, Fathi, Elneny – Trezeguet, Salah, Mohamed.
Mozambique (4-4-1-1): Siluane (GK) – Reinildo, Dove, Mexer, Domingos – Witi, Amade, Guima, Gildo – Domingues – Ratifo
1 hour to kickoff: Fancy an upset in style?
The last time Egypt lost an AFCON group game by more than one goal was over 30 years ago, in the 1990 edition against hosts Algeria (2-0).
1 hour 20 mins to kickoff: This is Mozambique’s fifth AFCON appearance and their first since 2010. They have finished bottom of their group in each of their four previous participations.
1 hour 40 mins to kickoff: This is Egypt’s 26th appearance at AFCON, a record in the history of the tournament. They have won it seven times – more than any other side – and have also reached the final in five of their last six participations.
No pressure for Mohamed Salah and friends, then.
2 hours to kickoff: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News’ live coverage of today’s AFCON opener for Egypt and Mozambique in Abidjan.
With the two-year anniversary of their defeat on penalties to Senegal in the final of the last edition of this tournament looming, the Pharaohs — spearheaded by Mohamed Salah — are hefty favourites to win their opener against a Mozambique side who qualified with three wins and a draw from six matches, finishing four points behind Senegal in their group and above Benin and Rwanda.
Egypt vs Mozambique lineups
Egypt are without midfielder Ahmed Nabil with a torn foot ligament and defender Osama Galal because of a knee injury.
Mohanad Lasheen has replaced Nabil and centre-back Yasser Ibrahim is in the squad as a result of Galal’s misfortune.
Egypt starting lineup (4-3-3): El Shenawy (GK) – Hamdi, Hegazy, Abdelmonem, Hany – Zizo, Fathi, Elneny – Trezeguet, Salah, Mohamed.
Egypt subs: Gabr, Abdel Wahed, Abdelghany, Mohamed Mahgoub, Kahraba, Mohamed, Fahim Ghallab, Abdel Hameid Mohamed Abdalla, Marmoush, Abou Gabal Ali (GK), Daader (GK), Ahmed Abdelmonem
Mozambique centre-back David Malembana, who plays for Armenian Premier League club FC Noah, is out with a short-term hamstring injury he sustained in training.
Geny Catamo, a wideman for Portuguese heavyweights Sporting, is suspended because of bookings picked up in qualifying.
Mozambique starting lineup (4-4-1-1): Siluane (GK) – Reinildo, Dove, Mexer, Domingos – Witi, Amade, Guima, Gildo – Domingues – Ratifo
Mozambique subs: Da Conceicao David Matola, Malembana, Jone, Langa, Momade, Ha King, Palmirim David Bauque, Jone Bonde, Faza Joao (GK), Oficial Urrubal (GK), Da Conceicao Nangy
Egypt vs Mozambique live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this AFCON 2024 match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
| Region | TV | Streaming |
| USA | — | Fubo, beIN Sports Connect, Fanatiz |
| Canada | — |
— |
| UK | Sky Sports Football | Sky GO, Now TV |
| Australia | beIN Sports 1 | beIN Sports Connect |
| India | — | FanCode |
USA: This match will be available for live streaming via beIN Sports, Fanatiz and Fubo.
UK: This clash is available for live broadcast on Sky Sports Football with streaming available via Sky GO and Now TV.
Australia: BeIN Sports will provide broadcast coverage and streaming services for the tournament.
India: Streaming service FanCode is the place to go for AFCON 2024 matches.
