CAIRO: Egypt coach Hassan Shehata believes the opener of the World Cup qualifiers final phase will be difficult regardless of Zambia s caliber.

Beginnings are always difficult, Shehata told the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) official website on Thursday.

Our match against Zambia will largely determine how we would fare in the qualifiers.

A win will give us a boost in morale before we take on other opponents.

The Pharaohs, who aim to reach the World Cup for the first time since 1990, open their Group C campaign against Zambia at Cairo Stadium on Sunday.

The group also includes Egypt s rivals Algeria and minnows Rwanda.

Shehata, who led Egypt to back-to-back Nations Cup triumphs, warned his side against underestimating Zambia.

Zambia deserve our respect. They are a very good team, the 59-year-old concluded.