As Egypt head into their final group game of the 2025 AFCON against Angola, here is why they should take it seriously.
The Pharaohs got off to an inspiring start to their AFCON campaign, having earned qualification for the knockout stages after two games.
A late comeback against Zimbabwe, followed by a gritty win over South Africa secured a spot for the Pharaohs in the round of 16.
They will now face Angola on Monday to wrap up their group games. However, it remains crucial to keep their 100% record in the competition, and here's why.
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Despite their wins, Egypt are yet to produce a dominant performance and put their stamp on the tournament.
While Angola are no pushovers, a potential victory would serve as a huge momentum boost for Egypt heading into the next phase of the competition.
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With over 180 minutes of football played so far, it's quite easy to notice that some players are getting tired and need a rest.
This would be the right opportunity to give players like Mohamed Salah, Yasser Ibrahim, and Omar Marmoush a breather.
It's worth noting that for the first time in years, Egypt have depth in their squad and head coach Hossam Hassan can turn to Mahmoud Saber, Mohamed Shehata, Ibrahim Adel, and Mostafa Fathi.
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If there was a time to experiment with new tactics, this would be it. Hassan could try new ideas against Angola with the players at his disposal.
Egypt have already played with four defenders against Zimbabwe. They switched to a back three when they faced South Africa.
The change paid dividends against the Bafana Bafana, especially when Egypt went a man down at half-time after Mohamed Hany was sent off.
It cannot be ruled out that Hassan will try a new system against Angola on Monday. However, injuries could play a huge role.
