By Farayi Mungazi BBC Sport in Sfax

Kapenya fails to clear the second Egypt goal off the line

Zimbabwe 1-2 Egypt

Four-times champions Egypt had to come from a goal down to deny Zimbabwe their first win in the African Cup of Nations.

Sheffield United's Peter Ndlovu headed cup debutants Zimbabwe into the lead seconds after the break.

But Tamer Abdelhamid's deflection and Mohammed Barakat's scrambled winner silenced the Warriors fans.

Egypt's goal count could have been much higher had it not been for the acrobatic efforts of Zimbabwe goalkeeper Energy Murambadoro.

Egypt had the better of the first half, as they launched their campaign for an unprecedented fifth Cup of Nations title.

Predictably, it was Ahmed 'Mido' Hossam who caused the most anxious moments in the Zimbabwe defence.

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The Warriors were riddled with indecision and it was only the agility of Murambadoro that kept the scoreline blank at the interval.

The 21-year-old produced a string of magnificent saves that underlined his ability between the sticks.

There was no shortage of thrills in the second period which was barely a minute old when captain Ndlovu put his side ahead.

I want to believe that the pressure of this being our first game of the tournament got to us Egypt coach Mohsen Salah

The veteran striker found himself unmarked inside the box and his glancing header left Egyptian goalkeeper Nader El Sayed a painfully disinterested onlooker.

But that was like a red rag to a bull as the Egyptians responded with venom.

< The Pharoahs found the sort of form that left their opponents reeling.

First it was Abdelhamid's fortuitous goal from a deflection which drew the Pharoahs level.

Then substitute Barakat put the Pharoahs ahead with a controversial goal which came from a goal-mouth scramble.

This is our first time at the Nations Cup and we are here to learn as much as we can. Zimbabwe coach Sunday Marimo

The referee had initially waved the goal away before his linesman forced a reversal of that decision, insisting the ball had crossed the line.

Zimbabwe had a couple of late chances, the best by Wilfred Mugeyi, but they could not draw back the deficit.

Egypt: 1-Nader El Sayed; 5-Abdelzaher El Saqqa, 13-Tarek El Sayed, 15-Bechir Al Tabei, 8-Tamer Abdelhamid, 11-Tarek Said (7-Ahmed Fathi, 71), 14-Hazem Emam (12-Mohamed Barakat, 62), 17-Ahmed Hassan, 21-Hani Said, 9-Ahmed Hossam, 10-Ahmed Belal (20-Hady Khashaba, 84)

Zimbabwe: 1-Energy Murambadoro; 2-Dumisani Mpofu, 5-Dazzy Kapenya, 6-Kaitano Tembo, 14-George Mbwando, 3-Esrom Nyandoro, 8-Lazarus Muhoni (17-Joel Luphahala, 67), 11-Charles Yohane, 20-Tinashe Nengomasha, 9-Agent Sawu (10-Wilfred Mugeyi, 55), 12-Peter Ndlovu

Referee: Lassina Pare (Burkina Faso).