Egypt 1-0 Lebanon | Afsha on Target | Highlights
Afsha converted the spot-kick on 71 minutes after left-back Ahmed Fattouh was felled by Lebanon’s George Melki.
Egypt lie second in the group with three points, behind Algeria on goal difference after the fellow North Africans crushed Sudan 4-0 earlier in the day.
The Pharaohs, playing with a team mainly comprising home-based players, struggled to break down Lebanon’s massed ranks, with coach Carlos Queiroz’s selections drawing some criticism.
The Portuguese once again fielded natural forward Mohamed Sherif as a left-winger, with the Ahly man failing to make an impact. Other players who excelled in the early stages of the Egyptian Premier League, such as Smouha’s on-loan striker Marwan Hamdi, were also peripheral.
[xyz-ihs snippet=”In-article-Ad”]Sherif had Egypt’s best chance in the first half, heading wide when well-positioned to score following a flick from the lively Afsha three minutes before the break.
Substitute Ahmed Refaat also wasted a clear-cut chance when he was released by a defense-splitting pass from Ahly midfielder Amr El-Sulaya on 52 minutes, only to fire straight at keeper Mostafa Matar, who pulled off some fine saves to thwart Egypt on several occasions.
[xyz-ihs snippet=”In-article-Ad”]The breakthrough finally came when Fattouh cut inside Melki, who tripped him. Afsha’s powerful effort struck the fingertips of Matar and went in.
Egypt face Sudan in their second Group D match on Saturday.
