Egypt are unbeaten in 10 successive home games, making them the clear favourites against the visitors.
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Egypt will be keen to put their recent disappointment behind them and book a place in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. On Sunday, they will come up against Guinea at the Cairo International Stadium in Group D of the qualifiers. Egypt are unbeaten in 10 successive home games, making them the clear favourites against the visitors. Besides, Guinea’s recent run of results has not been at its best, making the challenge a lot harder for them on Sunday. Egypt, also known as the Pharaohs, are ranked 32, while Guinea are placed 80th in FIFA’s ranking.
Mohamed Salah-inspired Egypt have suffered a lot of heartbreaks this year already. Their last game in action was at the end of March when their hopes of securing a World Cup ticket ended in an agonising manner after suffering a penalty shootout defeat against Senegal. Despite winning the home leg 1-0, Egypt lost the second leg by the same margin before losing the shootout 1-3 to Sadio Mane-inspired Senegal. It was a repeat of the Africa Cup of Nations final loss in February. Back then, Egypt once again lost to Senegal in a shootout after the final ended goalless.
Despite these two major setbacks this year, Egypt will still be the overwhelming favourites on Sunday. It is largely due to the home side’s superior ranking and their opposition’s disappointing run of recent results. Guinea are winless in their last four encounters, having drawn two and lost two. Even in the Africa Cup of Nations, they suffered a surprise loss to Gambia in the round-of-16. They will also be looking to put behind their recent disappointment behind and start their qualification process on a positive note.
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With not many major injuries, both sides have named a star-studded line-up. Egypt’s challenge will be led by their talismanic forward Mohamed Salah. The Liverpool frontman has been in prolific form this season, especially in the first half of the campaign. However, he suffered a bit of a dip in the final weeks of the season. Nonetheless, he will be a player to watch out for on Sunday. Salah can turn the tide of the match in no time with his dribbling, close ball control, pace and finishing.
Up front, he is expected to be joined by Ahmed Hassan and Omar Marmoush. Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny is expected to be a key player for them in the middle of the park. Guinea also have quality players scattered across European leagues. Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita, Brentford defender Julian Jeanvier, Roma’s Amadou Diawara and Leipzig teenager Ilaix Moriba are some of the players the home side need to keep an eye on.
Egypt possible line-up: El Shenawy, El Fotouh, El Wensh, Hegazi, Gaber, Fathy, Elneny, El Solia; Salah, Hassan, Marmoush
Guinea possible line-up: M Camara, A Camara, Jeannie, I Sylla, Sow, Moriba, Diawara, Keita, Cisse, Barry, Bayo
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The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Group D qualification match between Egypt and Guinea will take place at the Cairo International Stadium and it will kick off at 12:30 am IST on Monday.
A selection of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers will be telecast live on beIN SPORTS, where Egypt vs Guinea match can also be viewed.
