Match K.O. 18:00 Cairo local time | 11:00 ET Canada-USA
Venue: Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde
The Egyptian national team is set to take on Cape Verde in the fifth round of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers on Friday, striving to maintain their flawless winning streak.
Already qualified for the finals, Egypt boasts a perfect record in the CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, winning all four matches, scoring 10 goals, and maintaining a flawless defensive record with no goals conceded.
Under coach Hossam Hassan’s leadership, the Pharaohs aim to finish the qualifiers on a strong note and showcase their continued dominance.
Their campaign began with an impressive 3-0 victory over Cape Verde in September, featuring goals from Rami Rabia, Omar Marmoush, and Ibrahim Adel.
For Friday’s encounter, however, Egypt will be missing several key players. Rami Rabia, Mohamed Abdel Moneim of Nice, and Yasser Ibrahim are sidelined due to injuries, while Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan and Marwan Attia will be unavailable due to suspension.
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has also opted out of this month’s qualifiers at his own request, a decision that coach Hossam Hassan has respected.
To reinforce the squad, Hassan has brought in fresh talent, including Smouha defender Mahmoud Ahmed Rabia, Ceramica Cleopatra winger Mahmoud Abdel Hafiz Zalaka, and Ahly winger Taher Mohamed Taher.
Speaking at a press conference, Hassan, Egypt’s all-time leading scorer, shared his optimism for the team’s future, drawing inspiration from the recent achievements of regional rivals like Morocco. “Our ultimate goal is to qualify for the World Cup, and if we do, we are determined to deliver strong performances on the global stage,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Cape Verde faces a must-win scenario to keep their AFCON dreams alive. A narrow 1-0 aggregate loss to Botswana last month has left the Blue Sharks in third place in the group, with three defeats from four matches.
Coach Bubista’s squad faces a must-win scenario in their final two games, including this crucial clash against Egypt, to keep their hopes of qualifying for the 2025 AFCON alive.
Meanwhile, the group’s other fixture will see Botswana take on Mauritania on Friday. The top two teams from each group will secure a spot in the AFCON finals in Morocco.
