Egypt launch Cup countdown with victory

Egypt began their countdown to defending the CAF Africa Cup of Nations title with a 3-0 friendly win over Namibia on Saturday.

The Pharaohs play Mali next Thursday in the United Arab Emirates and Angola in Portugal three days later before opening their Nations Cup Group C campaign against Cameroon on 22 January in Ghana.

Amr Zaki, from Cairo club Zamalek, scored twice in the second half of a match predictably dominated by the five-time champions in the southern town and captain Ahmed Hassan, from Belgian outfit Anderlecht, was also on target.

Namibia, considered the no-hopers of the 16-team Cup, were playing for the first time under Dutch coach Arie Schans after the death of Ben Bamfuchile, a Zambian who guided the south-west nation into the finals.

Wasteful Egypt replaced ineffective midfielder Omar Gamal with star playmaker Mohamed Aboutraika just before half-time and his impact was almost immediate.

A back heel from Hosni Abd Rabou set up Zaki for the 54th-minute opening goal, Hassan drilled a low shot into the net with 12 minutes left and his free kick was nodded in by Zaki on the stroke of full-time.