In the Group A opener of the CAF World Cup qualifiers, Egypt will face Djibouti at the Cairo International Stadium on Thursday evening.
Both teams have different aspirations coming into this match, with Egypt aiming to continue their impressive form and Djibouti looking to overcome their recent struggles.
Match Preview
Egypt, the fifth-ranked team in Africa, enters this match following a 1-1 draw against Algeria in a friendly match.
Despite playing with 10 men for most of the game, Egypt was moments away from securing victory before conceding a late equalizer.
Their solid performance continued their streak of just one loss in their last 11 matches, including nine wins.
The Pharaohs are determined to make amends for their failure to qualify for the last World Cup, and they boast a talented squad led by stars like Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush.
On the other hand, Djibouti’s hopes of reaching the African Cup of Nations were dashed after a defeat in the preliminary round.
Although they have shown some improvement with back-to-back friendly wins, their overall record has been less impressive, with only one victory in regulation time since June 2021.
The upcoming fixture against Egypt poses a significant challenge for Djibouti, especially considering their limited preparation time compared to their opponents.
Team news
Egypt will rely on the prolific goal-scoring abilities of Mohamed Salah, while Djibouti will look to Samuel Akinbinu and Gabriel Dadzie to provide the attacking threat.
Both sides are expected to field strong lineups, with key players ready to make an impact.
Predicted Lineups:
Egypt:(3-4-3)
El Shenawy;
Gabr, Abdelmonem, Sharaf;
Zizo, Fathi, Elneny, Ibrahim,
Salah, Mohamed, Marmoush
Djibouti:(4-3-3)
Mbonihankuye;
Warsama, Farada, Raita, Siad;
Hassan, Idle, Elabeh;
Fouad, Dadzie, Akinbinu
Prediction
Based on their quality and experience, we predict a comfortable victory for Egypt, with a final scoreline of 4-0.
The Egyptian side possesses top-level talent from some of the best leagues worldwide and should prove too strong for Djibouti in this encounter.
