Tottenham striker Ahmed Hossam “Mido” scored the first goal of the tournament to put Egypt ahead in the 18th minute.

Four minutes later Ahli playmaker Mohamed Abou-Treika doubled the lead for the hosts from a sublime free-kick while Ahmed Hassan completed the rout after the break.

Libya finished the game with 10-men after goalkeeper Luis de Agustini was given his marching orders in the 75th minute.

The result put Egypt tentatively in top spot of Group A on three points ahead of Saturday’s game between Ivory Coast and Morocco.

The Pharaohs dominated the game from its start and created several chances on Agustini’s goal.

In the 18th minute, Mido rose above a sea of players to connect with a Mohamed Abdul-Wahab corner-kick at the far post and buried a brilliant header home sending the home crowd into frenzy.

Egypt continued to raid the Libyan goal and on one of the occasions Amr Zaki was fouled at the edge of the area.

Abou-Treika stepped up to curl a dazzling set-piece into the top right corner of Agustini’s net to put Egypt two up.

Younes Shibani nearly pulled one back for the visitors when his twice-taken long range effort went inches wide of Essam Al-Hadari’s goal.

Shibani's effort was soon replicated by Omar Daoud but Al-Hadari was swift to repel the danger.

Abdul-Wahab and skipper Hassan had efforts denied by a shaky Agustini before the interval.

Libya were reduced to ten-men after Agustini brought down Zaki in the area for a penalty-kick to pick up his second yellow card and exit the game.

Substitute goalkeeper Muftah Ghazalla, who came in for Muntasir, to save Mido’s effort but was unfortunate in failing to respond to Hassan’s rebound.

The Besiktas midfielder pounced on the saved spot-kick to register Egypt’s third in the 78th minute.

Substitute Hassan Mostafa almost added the fourth for the home side when he unleashed a mesmerizing drive from the edge of the area that was denied by a great reflex save from Ghazalla.