Sports Mole previews Sunday’s World Cup Qualifying – Africa clash between Gabon and Egypt, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Aiming to pick up a second World Cup qualifying victory in as many games, Egypt travel to Stade de Franceville on Sunday to face Gabon.
Meanwhile, the home side will be looking to bounce back from an opening defeat on the road last time out and kick start their own qualification campaign.
Match preview
© Reuters
Egypt began their quest for a place in Qatar next year on a good note by seeing off the threat of Angola courtesy of a 1-0 victory at the Cairo International Stadium on Wednesday.
The deadlock was broken five minutes into the contest as Mohamed Magdy Afsha kept his cool from 12 yards to hand the Pharaohs all three points.
Hossam El-Badry‘s men are on a run of nine games without a defeat since they were knocked out in the round of 16 of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations by South Africa.
However, Sunday’s visitors have won just one of their last three outings on the road which is an area that needs significant improvement going forward.
Gabon were stunned 2-1 by the Mediterranean Knights of Libya when the sides went toe-to-toe at the Martyrs of February Stadium on Wednesday.
Patrice Neveu‘s men opened the scoring 11 minutes into the match through Andre Poko, before goals from Ali Salama and Sanad Al-Warfali turned the game on its head.
That was a third defeat in four outings for The Panthers who have some picking up to do ahead of this weekend’s clash in front of their fans.
Having already secured their place in January’s Africa Cup of Nations, Sunday’s hosts will be looking to feature in the global football championship 10 months later.
Gabon World Cup Qualifying – Africa form:
Gabon form (all competitions):
Egypt World Cup Qualifying – Africa form:
Egypt form (all competitions):
Team News
Once again, Egypt will be without the services of Mohamed Salah who was not released by Liverpool due to the current COVID-19 protocols in England for players on international duty.
Mohamed Magdy Afsha has netted three times in his last four appearances for this weekend’s visitors after failing to find the back of the net in any of the first six.
Denis Bouanga and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have scored in both of Gabon’s last two fixtures on home turf and the duo will aim to keep that run going.
Both teams have the complement of a full squad to work with having come out of their respective fixtures last time out unscathed in terms of injuries.
Gabon possible starting lineup:
Mezui; Manga, Akue, Obiang; Poko, Lemina, Kanga, Bouanga, Palun; Aubameyang, Allevinah
Egypt possible starting lineup:
El Shenawy; El Fatouh, Hegazi, Hamdi, El Mohamady; Al-Sulaya, Fathy, Magdy Afsa, Hemed, Zizo; Sherif
We say: Gabon 1-2 Egypt
Egypt were not necessarily at their best against Angola but still found the wherewithal to claim all three points. While the absence of Salah could see them labour again, we are backing them to carry the day nonetheless.