Newly-appointed Egypt manager Hector Cuper says Egyptian players are talented and pretty well organized after they claimed a 2-0 friendly win over Equatorial Guinea on his debut.

Two late goals from Bassem Morsy and Mahmoud Hassan 'Trezeguet' gave the Argentinean boss his first win at the Egypt helm, in a game that seemed as though it was heading for a goalless draw at Cairo's Petrosport Stadium.

"Egyptian players are talented and pretty well-organized, they are also able to respond well to the management's directives," Cuper said after the game.

"A win is important regardless of whether it was in a friendly or a competitive game; I needed to see how the players respond to my directives on the pitch.

"The resumption of the league is important for us; for sure it will increase our selection choices."

Cuper, who twice led Valencia twice to a runners-up spot in the UEFA Champions League, has been tasked with helping record seven-time African champions Egypt reach the Africa Cup of Nations finals.

The Pharaohs have uncharacteristically been failing to achieve what used to be a routine qualification for the Nations Cup – missing out on the last three editions since last winning the title in 2010.

The league has been put on hold since last month's Air Defense Stadium tragedy, which saw 20 Zamalek fans die of stampede after being teargassed by security forces ahead of a game with ENPPI.

With the domestic competition set to resume on 30 March, Cuper will now be hopeful of widening his selection criteria following a nearly six-week stoppage since the ominous disaster.   

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