Prediction: 0-1
Tip: Both Teams To Score- No / Result in extra-time
Key Points:
1. Egypt averages scoring 0.75 games per match in this year's tournament
2. Morocco has not lost any of their last 16 matches
3. Morocco has kept seven clean sheets in their past nine away matches
The third match of the quarter-finals stage of the Africa Cup of Nations presents us with the most exciting match-up where Egypt takes on Morocco at Stade Olembé on Sunday.
Many fans of the competition will remember the uncanny resemblance of these two sides tussling it out at the same stage during 2017's iteration of the competition. However, the times have changed, and Egypt is more than unlikely to replicate that outcome in this year's contest.
Both teams arrived at this stage in some spectacular fashion. The Pharaohs came off by defeating one of the powerful outfits in the Ivory Coast. Egypt won via a penalty shootout when Eric Bailly's efforts got thwarted by Mohamed Abou Gabal. For Morocco, all it took was a spectacular Achraf Hakimi free-kick to send Malawi packing.
Out of the four matches played in the tournament, the Atlas Lions have won three games with a draw against Gabon. Carlos Queiroz's side has struggled to feed and release their captain Mohamed Salah.
That is a problem that has contributed to a loss at the start of their tournament. Egypt has bounced back despite this and claimed narrow margined victories to reach the quarter-final stage.
The going is about to get critical because, on paper, Morocco is a better team with better sets of players than Egypt this year. Moreover, Egypt has not managed to keep up its dominating standards as the most successful team in this competition's history. Vahid Halilhodžić's side has an excellent chance to lift the trophy this year after their disappointing loss in the finals during 2004.
Mohamed El-Shennawy will need his clearance which is doubtful. The Egypt goalkeeper was withdrawn cautiously in the last game before extra time. Hamdi Fathi might also be having some troubles due to his withdrawal from the same game. For Morocco, only midfielder Ilias Chair is unsure of starting due to a minor issue he picked up against Gabon.
Egypt
Int. Friendly Games26 Mar 2024Egypt2 : 4Croatia- Int. Friendly Games22 Mar 2024Egypt1 : 0New Zealand
- Africa Cup of Nations28 Jan 2024Egypt1 : 1DR Congo
- Africa Cup of Nations22 Jan 2024Cape Verde2 : 2Egypt
- Africa Cup of Nations18 Jan 2024Egypt2 : 2Ghana