Egypt's national football team produced a dominant performance against South Sudan, winning 5-0 in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations Group B qualifier at Juba Stadium. The match saw Omar Marmoush end a six-month international goal drought with a brace. The Pharaohs' victory was a significant improvement from their previous match, a goalless draw against Angola in Cairo on Friday. Marmoush's performance was particularly notable, as he was given the responsibility of leading Egypt's attack in the absence of captain Mohamed Salah.
The match got off to a strong start for Egypt, with Mostafa Ziko and Emam Ashour both missing presentable opportunities from close range within the first five minutes. However, Ziko made no mistake in the 36th minute, rising to meet Ahmed Fattouh's cross and smashing the ball into the net to give Egypt a deserved lead. The team's dominance continued after the break, with Marmoush doubling the advantage just four minutes into the second half. Mohanad Lashin's long ball sent Marmoush racing through on goal, and the forward kept his composure to beat the goalkeeper.
Coach Hossam Hassan made a double change in the 53rd minute, bringing on Ibrahim Adel and Karim Hafez for Haissem Hassan and the injured Fattouh. Adel immediately made an impact, adding Egypt's third goal in the 75th minute and effectively putting the result beyond doubt. The changes seemed to revitalize the team, and they continued to press for more goals.
Marmoush was not finished, striking again in the 83rd minute to complete his brace. The forward's second goal was a significant moment for him, as it marked the end of a six-month wait for an international goal. The Egyptian team's dominance was further emphasized by Hamza Abdelkarim, who put the final stamp on a ruthless performance deep into stoppage time, scoring his first international goal.
South Sudan struggled to match Egypt's quality throughout the match and failed to seriously trouble goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir. The team's defeat was their second consecutive loss in the qualifying campaign, leaving them bottom of Group B without a point. In contrast, Egypt's emphatic victory took them to four points at the top of the group, at least temporarily.
The top two teams in each qualifying group will advance to the 2027 AFCON finals, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda from June 19 to July 17, 2027. Egypt's next match is a friendly against South Africa in Cairo on October 4, providing an opportunity for the team to build on their momentum. The team's performance against South Sudan will likely give them confidence ahead of the upcoming match.
The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign is ongoing, with teams competing for a spot in the final tournament. Egypt's victory against South Sudan was a significant result, and the team will look to continue their momentum in the coming matches. The team's coach, Hossam Hassan, will likely be pleased with the performance, but will also be aware of the need to continue improving ahead of the finals.
Key points
- Egypt's Omar Marmoush ended a six-month international goal drought with a brace against South Sudan.
- The victory took Egypt to four points at the top of Group B, at least temporarily.
- The 2027 AFCON finals will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
