Live Egypt vs Tunisia September 10 2014.
Match Info: Venue: Cairo Stadium | 10 Sep 2014 – 21:00 (CLT)
Egypt will risk missing out on an African Cup of Nations place for the third consecutive time should they fail to beat Tunisia at home on Wednesday.
Egypt host North African rivals Tunisia on Wednesday with little room for error, with an African Cup of Nations place at stake after they kicked off their qualifying campaign with a 2-0 defeat at Senegal.
A new-look Egypt side were mediocre on a disappointing night in Dakar, with their error-ridden display leading to unopposed forays from the hosts who claimed a deserved win, thanks to two first-half goals from Mame Biram Diouf and Sadio Mane.
The two carbon-copy goals exposed Egypt’s defensive frailties, with the sluggishness of the Pharaohs’ three-man backline raising alarm bells as coach Shawky Gharib rebuilds an underachieving side who failed to reach the Nations Cup in 2012 and 2013.
Egypt are aware they can hardly afford another slip-up when they meet Tunisia at Cairo’s army-owned Air Defence Stadium, which will only host up to 15,000 fans after the interior ministry agreed to partially lift the ongoing crowd ban.
Tunisia miss key players
Tunisia will have to do without key strikers Sami Allagui and Issam Jemaa, who were ruled out of the game due to injury.
The Carthage Eagles survived a scare from minnows Botswana in their Group G opener, having come from behind to earn a late 2-1 victory.
“Egypt’s latest results cannot be taken as indication that their form has deteriorated, they’re still a big African name,” Tunisia’s Belgian coach Georges Leekens said in the pre-match news conference.
“The pressure on the team and staff following their defeat in Senegal could prove a positive factor and not a negative one; it could motivate them even further to beat us,” he added.
“I hope both sides produce a big game; Egypt has a good squad.”
Egypt’s last meeting with Tunisia was a friendly game in the United Arab Emirates in 2012, with the latter claiming a 1-0 victory.
Their last competitive match was in 2002 when Egypt won 1-0 in the African Nations Cup group stage in Mali.
