Egypt kicked off their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a bang, dominating Cape Verde 3-0 in a thrilling showdown at Cairo International Stadium on Friday.
The Pharaohs came out firing, showcasing their strength and sending a clear message to the competition.
Rami Rabia opened the scoring for Egypt in the 23rd minute, and Omar Marmoush doubled the lead with a stoppage-time goal just before halftime, giving the hosts a solid cushion heading into the break. Ibrahim Adel put the game to bed with a clinical strike in the 70th minute, dashing any hopes of a Cape Verde comeback.
The Pharaohs now sit atop Group C with three points, awaiting the outcome of the Mauritania vs. Botswana clash on Saturday.
Coach Hossam showed his attacking ambitions from the start, fielding a formidable lineup that included Mohamed Salah, Mostafa Mohamed, Omar Marmoush, Mahmoud Trezeguet, and Ahmed ‘Zizo’ El Sayed.
Egypt dictated the pace of the game but had to wait until the 21st minute for their first real chance when Omar Marmoush’s close-range effort was deflected for a corner.
Just two minutes later, Rami Rabia capitalized, rising above the defense to head home Zizo’s perfectly placed cross for the opener. Egypt kept up the pressure, with Marmoush’s powerful strike deflected wide once more and Mostafa Mohamed twice thwarted by Cape Verde’s goalkeeper.
As Cape Verde pressed late in the first half, Salah spotted Marmoush in space, and the forward calmly slotted the ball into the net from close range just before the break.
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In the second half, Egypt adopted a more cautious approach, conceding possession at times. Cape Verde’s Gilson Benchimol sent a shot into the side netting, while Duarte’s long-range effort was easily handled by goalkeeper Mohamed El Shennawy.
Hassan brought on Ibrahim Adel and Mostafa Fathy to regain control, and the duo linked up on a swift counterattack, with Adel netting his first international goal from close range.
Next up, Egypt heads to Botswana for a Tuesday showdown, but Coach Hassan will be concerned about the fitness of Mostafa Mohamed and Rabia, both of whom exited the match due to injuries.
