K.O. 21:00 Cairo local time | 15:00 ET Canada-USA
Venue: Grand Stade de Marrakech
Referee: Daniel Laryea
Egypt is currently leading Group D with a total of nine points, sharing the same score with Guinea, whom they emerged victorious against with a 1-0 win in their last meeting.
A victory for either team in Marrakech will give them a strong advantage in the race to become group winners.
Following a slow start to their campaign, Egypt has significantly improved under the guidance of coach Rui Vitoria.
The seven-time AFCON champions commenced their qualifying journey with a narrow 1-0 win against Guinea, but encountered an unexpected setback with a 2-0 defeat to Ethiopia in their subsequent match.
However, their confidence soared after a thrilling 2-1 victory against Belgium in a friendly match last November, and they continued their winning streak by defeating Malawi in both encounters, securing their position at the top.
On the other hand, Guinea has regained momentum at the perfect moment, triumphing in their last three qualifying matches to revive their campaign following their initial loss to Egypt.
They now only require a single point from their remaining two games to secure their third consecutive AFCON appearance.
Leading the Egypt squad is the prominent Liverpool star, Mohamed Salah, who aims to extend their unbeaten streak against Guinea to eight games. Salah is expected to spearhead the attack, supported by Omar Marmoush, Mahmoud “Trezeguet” Hassan, and Mostafa Mohamed.
Vitoria will face the challenge of missing injured midfielders Mohamed Elneny and Tarek Hamed, along with key central defender Ahmed Hegazy and Mahmoud “El Wensh” Hamdi, who have been sidelined due to extended knee injuries.
“We will strive for victory tomorrow to secure our qualification. Some players are dealing with fatigue, but we will only field those who are in optimal condition,” Vitoria stated during the pre-game press conference.
Guinea coach Kaba Diawara has also assembled a formidable squad, including talented individuals such as Issiaga Sylla, Naby Keita, and Francois Kamano.
While both teams may seem evenly matched on paper, Egypt’s superior quality and experience at this level should provide them with an advantage.
