Egyptian superstar Mohamed Salah saved his side from an embarrassing start to the Africa Cup of Nations and prevented Mozambique from their first-ever win at the tournament.
It was dream start from the Pharaohs as they caught the Mambas sleeping inside just the second minute of the game, when Mostafa Mohammed calmly slotted the ball in the bottom right-hand corner to make it 1-0.
The Nantes forward had another opportunity to make it 2-0 but he was denied by Mozambican goalkeeper Ernan Siluane.
Mozambique started to grow into the game, with CD Nacional winger Witiness Quembo finding himself free inside the box but shots wide.
After 25 minutes Mahmoud Trezeguet nearly doubled the lead but hit the upright. The seven-times AFCON winners were looking to get Mozambique on the break but kept on missing that final touch in the final third.
A few minutes later, some great footwork from Gildo Vilanculos and a tricky cross led to Mohamed Hamdy nearly putting the ball into his own net but Mohamed El Shenawy tipped it over the crossbar.
Egypt went into the half-time break with a 1-0 lead, which meant Mozambique had to dig deep in the second half.
At the break, Mozambique introduced Clesio Bauque and Bruno Langa in place of Gildo and Elias Pelembe and it bared fruit. Ten minutes into the second half Domingues Macandza produced a great cross, which Witiness Quembo tucked home to level matters 1-1.
Three minutes later, Ricardo Guima set up substitute Clesio Bauque and he converted to make it 2-1 as the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium erupted.
Egypt kept on pushing for the equaliser, but the Mambas kept them at bay. Mozambique coach Chiquinho Conde replaced forward Witiness Quembo with a defender Amadu, as he was shutting the back door.
On the 83rd minute Mohamed Salah had a chance to pull level matters, but he shot went wide.
But late in the game, one error in the Mozambique defence caused an injury-time penalty on VAR review, which Salah calmly slotted home to salvage a point.
It was only the Mambas third ever point at the AFCON but they were so close to celebrate a historic win.
