LIVE: Egypt v Zambia | Friendly Game in UAE
After the cancelation of the friendly game against Senegal on Thursday, Egypt will face Zambia on Sunday in a friendly game within preparations for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers and the 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Egypt were scheduled to face Senegal on Thursday before meeting Zambia on Sunday as part of a training camp in the United Arab Emirates, but they cancelled Thursday’s friendly game against Senegal after finding out that the opponents will not field their senior side.
Egypt coach Hector Cuper has announced a 25-man squad, including six foreign-based players, Ahly and Zamalek men, is to join the UAE camp as well as take part in a training camp and the two friendlies as part of preparations for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
Zambia are preparing for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers as they will face Sudan next November in the second round of the qualifiers. They will also face Congo in the 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifiers next March.
Egypt’s full squad:
Goalkeepers: Sherif Ekramy (Ahly), Ahmed El-Shenawy (Zamalek), Ali Lotfy (ENPPI), Mahdy Soliman (Smouha)
Defenders: Saad Samir, Ahmed Hegazy, Rami Rabia, Sabri Rahil, Bassem Ali (Ahly), Ali Gabr, Omar Gaber, Mohamed Abdel-Shafy (Ahly-Saudi Arabia)
Midfielders: Momen Zakaria, Abdallah El-Said (Ahly), Mahmoud Kahraba, Tarek Hamed (Zamalek), Mohamed Elneny (Basel-Swiss), Mahmoud Trezeguet (Anderlecht-Belgian) out due to injury in tranning, Amr Warda (Panetolikos)
Strikers: Amr Gamal, (Ahly), Bassem Morsi, Ahmed Hassan Mekki (Zamalek), Mohamed Salah (Roma-Italy), Ahmed Hassan Koka (S.C. Braga-Portugal)
Zambia (Chipolopolo):
Goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene told ZNBC Sports that the friendly match will accord the technical bench an opportunity to assess all the players, as Zambia prepares for three crucial games from next weekend.
Mweene said it is encouraging that the team is well balanced as comprises both young and experienced players.
And striker Collins Mbesuma said he will take the match seriously because it is vital for Chipolopolo’s preparations ahead of the CHAN and World Cup qualifiers.
Midfielder Chisamba Lungu is hopeful the Pharoahs will give the Chipolopolo a good game on Sunday.
Zambia is using the Egypt friendly to prepare for next weekend’s CHAN qualifier against Mozambique at the Lexy Mwanawasa stadium in Ndola.
A week later, George Lwandamina’s boys will travel to Maputo to face the Mambas at Estadio Zimpeto stadium, in a match that will determine who qualifies to the Rwanda 2016 championship.
This will be followed by the FIFA World Cup first leg eliminator against Sudan in Khartoum on November 11, before hosting the Sudanese three days later in the second leg at Levy Mwanawasa stadium.
