Hosts Egypt, Senegal Record Wins In Final Pre AFCON Friendlies
17th June 2019
Marwan Mohsen gave the Pharaohs an early lead in Alexandria that was cancelled by Sory Kaba midway through the second half
- Egypt superstar Mohamed Salah came off the bench but did not score as the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations hosts defeated fellow qualifiers Guinea 3-1 Sunday in a warm-up match
- Everton star Idrissa Gueye scored the first half goal that gave Senegal a 1-0 victory over Nigeria behind closed doors in Ismailia, one of the venues for the African showpiece
- Zimbabwe led at half-time through a Knox Mutizwa goal and Mbwana Samatta equalised for Tanzania in a 1-1 draw between the qualifiers in Cairo
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa- Egypt superstar Mohamed Salah came off the bench but did not score as
the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations hosts defeated fellow qualifiers Guinea
3-1 Sunday in a warm-up match.
Marwan Mohsen gave
the Pharaohs an early lead in Alexandria that was cancelled by Sory Kaba midway
through the second half.
Ahmed Ali, recalled
for the Cup of Nations after a lengthy absence from the national squad, put
Egypt ahead again and Omar Gaber scored a late goal to ensure victory.
It was the second
warm-up victory for Egypt, who defeated qualifiers Tanzania 1-0 three days ago
at the same stadium.
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Egypt are in Group A
with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Zimbabwe for the June 21-July
19 tournament as they seek a record-extending eighth African title.
While Egypt are on a
winning streak, serious title contenders Morocco suffered a second home loss in
a row as they fell 3-2 to non-qualifiers Zambia.
Ajax Amsterdam star
Hakim Ziyech equalised twice for a team considered one of the biggest threats
to title favourites Egypt only for Enock Mwepu to snatch a 75th-minute winner.
Morocco, who lost to
the Gambia last Wednesday, are guided by Frenchman Herve Renard, the only coach
to win the Cup of Nations with different countries.
He led outsiders
Zambia to the title in 2012 and repeated the feat three years later with
perennial underachievers the Ivory Coast.
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Everton star Idrissa
Gueye scored the first half goal that gave Senegal a 1-0 victory over Nigeria
behind closed doors in Ismailia, one of the venues for the African
showpiece.
Three-time champions
Nigeria and former runners-up Senegal are expected to go far in the first Cup
of Nations to feature 24 teams, up from 16 two years ago in Gabon.
Andy Delort, a late
call-up by Algeria after the axing of Haris Belkebla for baring his back side
online, scored the winner in a thrilling 3-2 victory over Mali in Doha.
Mali were in front
twice before Delort netted nine minutes from time for Algeria, whose lone
African title came at home 29 years ago.
This match was also
played behind closed doors as coaches put the final touches to preparations for
a tournament that kicks off Friday with a match between Egypt and Zimbabwe.
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Zimbabwe led at
half-time through a Knox Mutizwa goal and Mbwana Samatta equalised for Tanzania
in a 1-1 draw between the qualifiers in Cairo.