2020 AFCON finalists Egypt and Senegal will square off for the second consecutive time when both sides meet in Cairo for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Venue: Cairo International Stadium (Cairo)
Key Statistics
Egypt are unbeaten in their last six games – 90 minutes only.
The hosts have won four of their last five home games.
Senegal are unbeaten in their last 13 games in all competitions (W10, D3).
They have kept six clean sheets from their last eight games.
Head to head
The two sides have clashed on 13 occasions in the past and Egypt have a narrow advantage with six wins to their name. Senegal were victorious in five matches, while two fixtures in the past ended in a draw.
Latest performances in all competitions
Egypt: L-W-W-W-W
Senegal: W-W-W-W-D
Egypt
Egypt will play against Senegal just two months after they locked horns in the African Cup of Nations final. The two African giants will square off once again in the first of their two-legged World Cup playoffs match.
The Pharaohs suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Senegal the last time the two teams met in the AFCON finals, losing on penalties to the Lions of Tarenga, after both teams had failed to score after 120 minutes.
They will look to put that defeat behind them and return to winning ways.
Carlos Queiroz’s men enjoyed an unbeaten run in the qualifying group stage claiming four wins and two draws from six games to collect 14 points and finish top of Group F with a seven points lead over runners-up Gabon.
They come into this encounter unbeaten in each of their last seven home games, winning six and one draw since a 1-0 loss against South Africa in 2019. The Pharaohs of Egypt must now banish the ghost of the Cairo International Stadium and secure a win against Aliou Cisse’s men to book a place in Qatar.
Possible Egypt starting line-up
Mohamed El-Shenawy (GK); Mahmoud Hamdy El-Wensh, Mohamed Abdelmomen, Ayman Ashraf, Ahmed Fatouh; Hamdi Fathi, Amr El-Sulya, Mohamed Elneny; Mohamed Salah, Omar Marmoush, Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet.
Injured: None
Suspended: None
Senegal
Just like their Friday host, Senegal came into this encounter after finishing as Group H leaders with 16 points from six games, eight points ahead of second-placed Togo.
The reigning champions of Africa head into this game unbeaten in each of their last 13 games across all competitions, claiming 10 wins and three draws since losing to South Africa on penalties in the COSAFA Cup back in July 2021.
Their impressive run of results have been owing to the solid job done by Aliou Cisse, setting up a team that is both defensively solid and also devastating in attack.
The Lions of Teranga have scored 24 goals and kept seven clean sheets since their defeat against the Bafana Bafana.
Senegal will be looking to pick up right from where they stopped by beating the Pharaohs once again and having won each of the last three meetings between them since a 2-1 defeat back in February 2006. They will feel confident of coming away with the desired result on Friday.
Possible Senegal starting line-up
Edouard Mendy (GK); Bouna Sarr, Kalidou Koulibaly, Abdou Diallo, Saliou Ciss; Pape Gueye, Nampalys Mendy, Idrissa Gana Gueye; Sadio Mane, Keita Balde, Ismaila Sarr.
Injured: Seny Dieng, Alfred Gomis
Suspended: None
Prediction
Egypt 1-1 Senegal