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.