Seven-time Africa Cup of Nations champions Egypt are aiming to start the 34th edition the best way possible when they play Mozambique on Sunday at Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium at 5:00PM GMT.
With the likes of Mohamed Salah who has been phenomenal at Liverpool, Egypt are the favourites.
However, Mozambique can fancy their chances of advancing from their pool which also has the likes of Ghana and Cape Verde.
Egypt coach Rui Vitoria has no injury concerns and will go for his best team as he aims to register his first win in Ivory Coast.
Salah is the team’s star player, and it is interesting to see whether he will be given a new role as the Portuguese tactician hinted.
Eintracht Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush is another Egypt player who will be aiming to make an impact.
Egypt Probable XI: Sobhi, Kamal, Hegazy, El Fotouh, Abdelmonem, Elneny, Attia, Ashour, Salah, Mohamed, Trezeguet
Just like Egypt, Os Mambas have not reported any recent injury in their squad meaning the technical team will have the pleasure of fielding their strongest possible team.
Geny Catamo and Clesio Bauque both had two goals in the qualifiers underlining their effectiveness in front of the goal.
Mozambique probable XI: Ernan, Macandza, Mexer, Malembana, Langa, Guima, Shaquille, Lourenco, Domingues, Clesio, King
Egypt beat Tanzania 2-0 in their most recent friendly game in preparation for Afcon, while Mozambique beat Botswana 2-0 before playing to a 1-1 draw with Lesotho in their last two games.
The two teams have met previously in the Afcon group stage three times – 1986, 1998, and 2010 and the Pharaohs won all the encounters by an identical 2-0 scoreline.
