HOLDERS Egypt will retain the African nations cup they won two years ago in Burkina Faso, Egypt’s coach Gerard Gili said on Monday. “My boys played very well in the first half and early in the second, but lost concentration after the second goal thus allowing Zambia to come close to scoring,” Gili said after Egypt’s opening 2-0 win against Zambia on Sunday. But the Frenchman was confident Egypt would improve. “We’ve taken the first step to retaining our trophy and I can’t see any team stopping us now. Yes, not even Nigeria,” he said. Captain Hassan Hassan agreed Egypt still had room for improvement. But attacker Salah Hosni Ahmed was confident. “We shall be in Lagos for the final. I don’t see any team denying us a place in the final,” he said. “The Cup will go back to Cairo. We are the best here,” said defender Omara Mohammed.