Cairo (AFP)

The Egyptians reached "a very good level" despite the "pressure" to play the African Cup of Nations at home, said Wednesday the coach and captain of the team, two days of the opening match in Cairo against Zimbabwe.

The CAN 2019 takes place in Egypt from June 21st to July 19th with, for the first time, 24 teams in contention.

The Pharaohs have the highest number of victories in the history of the most important African sports competition. With their seven titles, they are favorites.

"We started training camp on June 6th and the level we have reached so far is very good," said Mexican coach Javier Aguirre of the Pharaohs at a press conference at the Cairo International Stadium. where will be held Friday the opening match against Zimbabwe.

"We have been following this team for some time and we know how strong it is," he added, while Egypt is considered a big favorite against the other three group A selections: Zimbabwe, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Pharaoh captain Ahmed Elmohamady also said the group was "not as easy as people think."

"The pressure is always present in football, of course with the competition taking place in our country it will be even bigger (...) but it is also a positive thing to play this tournament among our public and we hope the win, "he added.

According to him, the team will also benefit from the presence of the Egyptian star of the Premier League, Mohamed Salah, just victorious in the Champions League with his Liverpool club.

But Mohamed Salah is "a player among the 23" of the Egyptian selection, according to Javier Aguirre. "He gives himself like the others, he acts like the others, he makes efforts like the others, in my eyes he is currently a player of the Egyptian team," he insisted.

? 2019 AFP