The African side were 14-13 down to the European under-18 champions in the fifth set but recovered to win the Pool C clash on day one of the event.

Abdelrahman Elhossiny Jr led the scoring charts for the Egyptians with 22 as they got home 17-25, 27-25, 25-17, 13-25, 17-15 in a thriller at Salle Polyvalente Radès.

Germany's Simon Torwie registered 23 points but it was in vain as Egypt, the fifth seeds, triumphed from their second match point.

The other Pool C game on the opening day saw sixth seeds Argentina beat Mexico in four sets, 25-21, 17-25, 25-14, 25-20.

In Pool A hosts Tunisia suffered a disappointing start as they lost in straight sets to North American youth champions Cuba, 25-22, 25-14, 25-18.

Belarus won a five-setter against Chinese Taipei, 25-15, 22-25, 25-16, 13-25, 15-5, in the pool's other game.

There was another five-set contest in Pool B as Italy beat Bulgaria 25-14, 21-25, 25-17, 22-25, 15-7.

Sixth seeds Czech Republic eased past Colombia 25-13, 25-16, 25-17 in the other match.

Pool D featured two straight set wins with United States too strong for Dominican Republic, 25-18, 31-29, 25-17.

Nigeria defeated South Korea 25-20, 28-26, 26-24.

The second round of pool matches will take place tomorrow, including the opening games for defending champions Iran, record six-time winners Brazil and the silver and bronze medallists last time in 2017, Russia and Japan respectively.

The top four teams in each group will all advance to the last-16 of the tournament with the final scheduled for August 30.