Egypt's national team, under the leadership of coach Hossam Hassan, is set to face South Sudan at Juba's National Stadium in a critical 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. The match, scheduled for Tuesday at 4 pm local time, marks the second round of qualifiers for the Egyptian team. Egypt is seeking to secure its first win in the qualifiers after a goalless draw with Angola in the first round.
The Egyptian team currently sits third in its group with one point, behind Angola, which also has one point, and Malawi, which leads the group with three points. South Sudan trails at the bottom of the group without any points. Egypt's primary goal is to achieve a win and return with three points to correct its path quickly in the qualifiers.
However, Egypt faces some challenges in the match, including the high temperature and the artificial turf at the stadium, which poses a risk of injuries to the players. The absence of key players Mohamed Salah and Mohamed Abdelmonem due to the stadium's conditions has been noted. On the other hand, Egypt welcomes back player Marwan Attia, who was suspended for the Angola match.
Coach Hossam Hassan has held multiple sessions with the players, emphasizing the need to focus on the South Sudan match and achieve a win. He took full responsibility for the team's performance in the Angola match, stating that everyone did their part. Hassan's strategy and team morale are crucial in this encounter.
Khaled El-Derandeli, the vice-president of the Egyptian Football Association and head of the Egyptian delegation in South Sudan, reported a positive atmosphere in the team's camp. He praised the warm reception and noted the high level of concentration and determination among the players and the technical staff to achieve the desired outcome.
The expected lineup for Egypt's match against South Sudan includes Mostafa Shobier in goal, with Mohamed Hani, Ramy Rabia, Hussein Abdel Majid, and Ahmed Fattouh in defense. The midfield is likely to consist of Emad Mashi, Marwan Attia, and Imam Ashour, while Omar Marmoush, Zico, and Hamza Abdul Karim (or Osama Faisal) are expected to lead the attack.
In a statement, South Sudan's coach, Christian Nsengi-Beyimbi, expressed his team's determination to achieve a positive result against Egypt. He acknowledged the absence of Mohamed Salah but emphasized that Egypt has enough quality and experience to overcome this challenge. The match is set to be intense, with both teams eager to secure a win.
Key points
- Egypt's national team aims to secure its first win in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against South Sudan.
- The match presents challenges for Egypt, including high temperatures and artificial turf at Juba's National Stadium.
- Egypt's coach, Hossam Hassan, focuses on team morale and strategy to overcome the challenges and achieve a positive outcome.
