The Pharaohs will host the Teranga Lions in Cairo on 24 March and the return leg is set to be played in Senegal on 29 March.

“Coach Carlos Queiroz asked to play the game at Cairo stadium and we already got the approval. All the demands of the coach will be achieved to fulfil the country’s dream of reaching the World Cup finals,”  Mohamed Helmy Mashhour, a board member of the Egyptian Football Association (EFA)  told an Egyptian TV channel on Monday.

“We are working hard to get the approval for the utmost number of fans for the game. At least 50,000 supporters will be attending the game," he added. 

In October, Egypt allowed a partial return of fans to attend the Egyptian Premier League games after a nine-year ban. However, during these years, Egypt allowed the CAF-mandated minimum of 5,000 fans at continental games at home.

The double confrontation will be a chance for the record seven-time African champions Egypt to avenge the Africa Cup of Nations final defeat against Senegal, after losing 2-4 in penalty shootout last week.

“Queiroz is working on all the details and he was the one who asked to play at the Cairo stadium in the attendance of fans,” Mashhour concluded.