Ahly winger Taher Mohamed opened the scoring in the 31st minute, but Cape Verde equalized through Ryan Mendes, who converted a penalty in the 63rd minute.

The Pharaohs, led by Egypt’s all-time top scorer, had already booked qualification for the tournament finals in Morocco.

With 13 points from five games, including four wins and a draw, Egypt maintained an unbeaten record in the qualifiers.

"My goal was to win against Cape Verde, but I’m pleased with the players’ performance despite the significant absences due to injuries and suspensions," Hassan said at the post-match press conference.

The 58-year-old coach emphasized the importance of achieving positive results, adding, "a draw is a good result against a strong team like Cape Verde, especially on their home turf."

Hassan also addressed the penalty decision, acknowledging it as part of the game. "The penalty kick wasn't accurate, but mistakes are part of football. I’d also like to thank Cape Verde for their warm hospitality," he said.

Egypt are set to host Botswana on Tuesday at the Military Academy Stadium to wrap up their AFCON 2025 qualifying campaign.

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