National team director Ibrahim Hassan. EFA
The Pharaohs cruised to a 2-0 victory over Ethiopia on Friday in the fifth round of the African 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers at Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca. This extended their unbeaten run to five games and edged them closer to booking a place in the finals.
“We got three important points against Ethiopia. We didn’t qualify for the World Cup finals yet but we are close to do so,” Ibrahim Hassan, the twin of the team coach Hossam Hassan, was quoted as saying by the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) Facebook page after the game.
Friday’s victory solidified the Pharaohs’ position atop Group A with 13 points after five games, five points ahead of second-placed Burkina Faso, while Ethiopia remain at the bottom with three points.
Egypt will next face third-placed Sierra Leone on Tuesday at the Cairo International Stadium in the next round of qualifiers, and, according to Hassan, fans’ support will be a key factor in the win.
“Sierra Leone game is challenging and there isn’t an easy game in the qualifiers,” Ibrahim explained.
“I hope fans will fill the stands in Tuesday’s game,” he concluded.
Egypt’s team are looking to reach their fourth-ever World Cup.
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