Egypt coach says draw against Gabon is satisfactory due to 'difficult circumstances'

Ahram Online , Monday 6 Sep 2021

Egypt played with ten men for 19 minutes after midfielder Omar Gaber was red-carded for a second bookable offence

Hossam El-Badri
Egypt's coach Hossam El-Badry

Egypt coach Hossam El-Badry said a late 1-1 draw away to Gabon in Sunday's World Cup qualifier was a satisfying result given the "difficult circumstances" his side had to endure.

Striker Mostafa Mohamed came off the bench to score on 90 minutes and secure a share of spoils after Gabon had taken a 73rd-minute lead through substitute Jim Allevinah.

Egypt played with ten men for 19 minutes after midfielder Omar Gaber was red-carded for a second bookable offence.  

El-Badry threw caution to the wind after Egypt fell behind, introducing the likes of Mohamed, veteran schemer Abdallah El-Said and deep-lying forward Salah Mohsen.

"I'm fully satisfied with the game's result, especially given the red card," El-Badry told ONtime sports.

"We had to make attacking substitutions towards the end. A risk was needed.

"We faced many difficult circumstances during the last period but we earned a positive result," he added, referring to the little time the team were given to prepare for their opening two World Cup qualifiers.

El-Badry said Egypt would get better following a lackluster display in an opening 1-0 home win over Angola but they were once again feeble, with even the return of Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah failing to spur them into action.

The Pharaohs top Group F with four points, one behind second-placed Libya who can move top if they beat Angola on Tuesday.  

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