Rui Vitoria will be under increasing pressure to produce a stellar performance as his team confronts Ghana in the second “Group B” match of the African Cup of Nations.
The lackluster performance of the Pharaohs in their initial match against Mozambique, allowing their opponents to secure a 2-1 lead until injury time when Mohamed Salah’s penalty saved them, has left fans feeling frustrated and skeptical about their prospects of reclaiming the African title they last secured in 2010.
Vitoria has received criticism for his lineup decisions in the Mozambique game and suggested the potential restructuring of the squad for the upcoming match against Ghana.
The Pharaohs are in dire need of a victory, as another setback could complicate their standing in the group, currently topped by Cape Verde with three points.
“We recognize the importance of the game against Ghana, as winning is the only option,” emphasized Egypt’s goalkeeper, Mohamed El-Shennawy, on Wednesday.
Conversely, Ghana is also desperate for a win following their unexpected 2-1 defeat against Cape Verde in the group opener.
In contrast to Egypt, the Black Stars conceded a late goal, resulting in their defeat.
A second consecutive loss in Group B would leave Ghana facing the possibility of elimination in the first round, reminiscent of their fate in the last AFCON in Cameroon in 2022.
Although the Black Stars have been crowned African champions four times, their last title came in 1982.
Egypt and Ghana have clashed in the Nations Cup on four occasions, with three of those encounters taking place in the group stages.
Both teams have notched a win each, and their third meeting ended in a draw.
The most notable match among them was the 2010 final, where the Pharaohs triumphed over the Black Stars with a 1-0 scoreline, securing the championship.
Stay tuned, match will start at 22:00 Cairo local time | 15:00 ET CANADA – USA
Egypt’s lineup:
Mohamed El-Shennawy – Omar Kamal, Mohamed Abdel-Moneim, Ahmed Hegazi, Mohamed Hamdi – Hamdi Fathi, Mohamed Elneny, Emam Ashour – Omar Marmoush, Mohamed Salah, Mostafa Mohamed
