Match K.O. 12:00 ET Canada – USA – 19:00 Cairo Local Time
Egypt faces a straightforward challenge this Friday as they take on Mauritania in a Nations Cup qualifier at Cairo Stadium. The Pharaohs, looking to extend their flawless record in the continental qualifiers, are expected to dominate on home turf.
With commanding victories in their first two matches—3-0 against Cape Verde in Cairo and 4-0 away to Botswana in September—the Pharaohs sit atop Group C with a perfect six points.
A win on Friday will bring the seven-time African champions closer to clinching a spot in next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
On paper, Egypt is heavily favored and shouldn’t face much resistance from Mauritania, who are unlikely to pose a serious threat to the Pharaohs.
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah and Bundesliga goal-scoring sensation Omar Marmoush will lead Egypt’s attack. Marmoush, the Frankfurt forward, has been turning heads in Germany with his standout performances, currently topping the Bundesliga scoring charts with eight goals. He recently grabbed the spotlight by scoring twice in Frankfurt’s thrilling 3-3 draw with Bayern Munich, salvaging a crucial point for his team.
The Pharaohs will also be bolstered by Ligue 1 talent, including Nice defender Mohamed Abdel-Moneam and Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed. Adding further strength to the squad are Qatari league standouts Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan (Al-Rayyan) and Hamdi Fathi (Al-Wakrah), both set to feature against Mauritania.
As for the locally-based players, the Pharaohs’ coach has kept his squad mostly unchanged from last month’s camp. Zamalek duo, goalkeeper Mohamed Awad and defensive midfielder Nabil ‘Dunga’ Emad, have been called up following their impressive performances in the CAF Super Cup. However, it’s unlikely they’ll start against Mauritania.
Ahly midfielder Emam Ashour remains absent from the squad for the second time. After missing the September camp due to injury, he has now been left out for technical reasons.
With such a talented group, Egypt is heavily favored to win, not only at home in Cairo but also in the second leg in Nouakchott on Tuesday, October 15.
FT: Egypt 2-0 Mauritania | African Cup of Nations qualifiers
