Impressive Pharaohs thrash Blue Sharks

Egypt thrashed Cape Verde 3-0 in their opening 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualification Group C match at Cairo International Stadium on Friday night.

The result saw the Pharaohs start their qualifying campaign with a convincing victory and they will be looking to secure another win when they take on Botswana in Francistown on Tuesday.

The Blue Sharks, on the other hand, will be licking their wounds after succumbing to an embarrassing defeat and they will be determined to bounce back to winning ways when they face Mauritania on Tuesday in Praia.

The Pharaohs controlled the match from the start and they deservedly broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute when Rami Rabia headed home Zizo's cross from the right to hand Egypt a 1-0 lead.

The hosts continued to launch the attacks after taking the lead and they were 2-0 up at halftime after Omar Marmoush hit the back of the net after being set up by Mostafa Mohamed in first-half stoppage-time.

Egypt continued to pile pressure on the Blue Sharks' defence after the restart which saw Ibrahim Adel find the back of the net in the 70th minute to make it 3-0 to the home side with Cape Verde's defence exposed.

The Blue Sharks launched late attacks as they looked to grab a consolation goal, but the Pharaohs were determined to keep a clean sheet and, ultimately, Egypt emerged as 3-0 winners on the night.

Egypt (2) 3 (Rabia 23', Marmoush 45'+1, Adel 70')

Cape Verde 0

EGYPT XI: El Shenawy, Trezeguet (M. Fathi 66'), Hamdi (Kouka 79'), Rabia (Ramadan Mohamed 80'), Zizo (Adel 66'), Attia, Marmoush, Salah, Hany, Fathi, Mohamed (Elneny 50').

CAPE VERDE XI: Varela, Moreira, Costa, Lopes, Paulo, Andrade (L. Duarte 46'), Lenini, D. Duarte (Varela 64'), Semedo (G. Andrade 76'), Livramento (Benchimol 46'), Mendes (D. Tavares 72').