Egypt will face off with Senegal in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification third-round, first-leg match at the Cairo International Stadium in Cairo on Friday.
Kick-off is at 19:30 GMT.
The Pharaohs 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 healthy seven-point lead over runners-up Gabon.
Egypt have appeared at the World Cup no less than three times in the past, while Senegal’s appearances at the global showpiece sit at two. Both teams were present at the last World Cup in Russia.
The heavyweight duo will rekindle their rivalry just one month after disputing the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations final.
Egypt coach Carlos Queiroz knows that Senegal will present a tough challenge to his side but he is optimistic they will come out victorious.
“Everybody knows, Senegal game will be a World Cup finale to us,” Queiroz told ONTime Sports as per KingFut.
“Things are going well, and fortunately there are no injuries among our squad.The players are motivated and excited for the matches, it’s our chance to play in the World Cup.
“The game will not be easy for us, but it also won’t be easy for our opponents.”
As for Senegal they come into the match aiming to reach their third World Cup after appearing at 2002, where they got all the way to the quarter-finals, and then 2018.
Head Coach Aliou Cissé was part of that 2002 team that also reached that year’s AFCON Final, losing this time to Cameroon via a shootout.
“This double confrontation with Egypt, the team that we have just beaten in the Afcon final on penalties promises to be tough and very difficult,” Cisse said in the pre-match conference.
“We are champions of Africa, but we are not favourites, because the statistics say that all the teams that have been African champions have not qualified for the World Cup.
“It’s another competition, we will do everything to qualify. Professional football, high-level football does not only feed on the past. Today, we are facing two very important dates for Senegalese football.”
Senegal showed dominance in in the previous round of qualifying – winning five out of their six matches and they won group H comfortably while also undefeated.
Both teams 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 share of the spoils.
The first match between the two teams date back to the AFCON 1986, and Senegal took the upper hand 1-0 at the Cairo International Stadium in the opening match of the African Cup of Nations.
