LIVE: Egypt v Algeria | Friendly match in UAE

K.O. 12:00 ET Canada-USA – 19:00 Cairo local time

Venue: Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium

Tonight, Egypt is gearing up for a demanding challenge as they go head-to-head with Algeria in a friendly match scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi.

The upcoming fixture versus Algeria is anticipated to pose a formidable challenge and may well be coach Rui Vitoria’s sternest test since their encounter with Belgium last year.

Since assuming control of the team in July 2022, Vitoria guided the Pharaohs to eight consecutive victories before experiencing a 3-1 loss to Tunisia in a friendly match held in Cairo last September.

The defeat to Tunisia marked the initial significant test for Vitoria and his team, given that their earlier matches were against relatively less formidable opponents, save for the clash with Belgium.

Consequently, Vitoria is keen to establish his credentials in the match against Algeria on Monday.

It is probable that the Portuguese coach will deploy a similar squad to the one that competed against Zambia, with the possibility of making two or three alterations to the starting lineup.

Players like Omar Marmoush, Omar Kamal, and Ahmed ‘Zizo’ Sayed, who were absent from the previous match’s starting lineup, might be considered for inclusion in the team.

On the flip side, Algeria’s coach, Djamel Belmadi, is also enthusiastic about evaluating his team against a formidable opponent like Egypt as part of their preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Belmadi emphasized the significance of this friendly match, stating that even though it’s labeled as friendly, it carries great importance for them.

He expressed his eagerness to take on Egypt, recognizing their reputation as a strong team and underscoring the opportunity to test his squad against top-tier teams from the continent, which they have had limited exposure to, aside from Egypt.

Last 5 games against Algeria;

FT: Egypt 1-1 Algeria | Friendly match in UAE