Angola and Egypt will be eyeing the perfect start to their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign when they meet in their opening Group F match in Cairo on Wednesday, kick-off at 19h00 GMT.
The Palancas Negras will be aiming for the second appearance in the global football showpiece while the Pharaohs will be eyeing for their successive appearance World Cup for the first time in their history.
Angola made their last appearance in 2006 and although they were unable to progress beyond the group stage, they have over the years demonstrated why they are one of the most top sides in African football.
In Cairo, they face seven-time African champions whom their coach Hossam El Badry has stated that Egypt will not underestimate their opponents in their quest to earn a place in the 2022 Fifa World Cup billed for Qatar.
Egypt made recent appearance in 2018 World Cup in Russia where they eliminated at the group stages, but are ready to chase a fourth appearance at the global football fiesta.
“I was confident that we would reach the Africa Cup of Nations as the group winners and I’m also confident that we will make it to the World Cup finals,” El Badry stated.
The Pharaohs will be going into the Angola game without Premier League stars Mohamed Salah and Mohamed Elneny.
Angola have struggled to get results of late but they will come in full forced by Leeds United winger Helder Costa and Ivan Cavaleiro of Fulham FC.
Their coach Pedro Gonçalves has also included Al-Batin forward Fabio Abreu as well as Mainz’s Anderson Lucoqui.
The other Group F match On Wednesday sees Libya host Gabon at Benina Stadium in Benghazi.
Malian referee Boubou Traore will be in-charge of the fixture in Cairo and his compatriots Modibo Samake, Baba Yomboliba and Mahamadou Keita will serve as assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2 and fourth official respectively.
Celestin Ntagungira from Rwanda will serve as the referee assessor while General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi will be the match commissioner.
