Watch: Mohamed Salah gears up for Friday's 2019 Africa Cup of Nations opener

The hosts will open the tournament with a match against Zimbabwe in Group A

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Mohamed Salah was put through his paces with the rest of the Egypt squad as they prepare to open the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations on Friday.

Hosts Egypt face Zimbabwe in Cairo on Friday (midnight Saturday UAE) as they seek a record-extending eighth Afcon title and first since 2010.

Also in Egypt's group are DR Congo and Uganda.

In an exclusive interview with The National, Egypt manager Javier said he was "really happy" with Salah and the squad's preparations for Afcon 2019, and that winning the trophy on home soil would give Salah a strong chance of being in the "last three or four" for the end-of-year Ballon d'Or.