Egypt seal Afcon qualification

Egypt have sealed qualification for the next Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals after they defeated Guinea 2-1 in a Group D match played at Marrakesh Stadium in Morocco on Wednesday evening.

The Syli National’s Serhou Guirassy put the ‘hosts’ (playing on neutral ground due to a lack of CAF-approved venues in their home country) into the lead, but the Pharaohs struck back via ‘Trezeguet’ to leave the game at 1-1 at halftime.

Mostafa Mohamed then fired home a winner with just over 10 minutes of regulation to play to guarantee top spot in the group and a ticket to the Nations Cup tournament in Ivory Coast, which will be played from 13 January to 11 February next year.

Egypt suffered an early injury blow when Omar Marmoush succumbed to a back problem and was replaced by Ibrahim ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan.

Neither side really found their rhythm in attack early on, though Guinea claimed the lead out of nowhere in the 26th minute with a brilliantly-executed move. Issiaga Sylla played a superb one-two with Naby Keita to get to the left by-line before squaring for Serhou Guirassy to tap home from close range for 1-0.

Egypt should have drawn level almost immediately, with Trezeguet’s shot from the left palmed into the danger area by Guinea goalkeeper Ibrahim Kone, but Mohamed Salah scooped the ball over the target with an empty net gaping in front of him.

Yet the Pharaohs did find a levelling goal late in the first half, with Trezeguet hitting the back of the net in the 42nd minute. Salah broke free down the right and teed up the substitute to stab a shot beyond Kone for 1-1.

The Syli National started the second half well and forced a couple of moments of pressure on Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy, but the North African side were able to reassert control as the game wore on.

Egypt almost took the lead in the 70th minute when a cut-back from the right found Trezeguet on the edge of the penalty area, and the attacker whipped a shot toward the top corner, only to be denied by a fine save from Kone.

Guinea went into game management mode from this point, and there passivity was punished by a second Pharaohs goal on 79 minutes: the excellent Trezeguet teed up Mostafa Mohamed in the middle of the penalty area, with the striker crashing home a right-footed shot for 2-1.

Mohamed’s beautifully finished goal proved to be the difference between the nations, with Guinea unable to find a way back into the game.

The teams will complete their qualification campaign in September, with Guinea away to Malawi and Egypt at home to Ethiopia.

Guinea (1) 1 (Guirassy 26’)

Egypt (1) 2 (Trezeguet 42’, M. Mohamed 79’)

GUINEA: Kone, A. Conte (M. Konate 83’), Diakhaby (M. Camara 59’), I. Sylla, Diawara, N. Keita, Moriba (M. Sylla 74’), Kamano (J. Kante 83’), Guillavogui (D. Sylla 73’), Guirassy

EGYPT: El Shenawy, Mossad, Abdelmonem, Hany (R. Mohamed 67’), Hamdy Sharaf, Marmoush (Trezeguet 10’), Hamada (H. Fathi 67’), Attia, Salah, Zizo (M. Fathi 90+1’), M. Mohamed (Kahraba 90+1’)