Senegal is set to host the Pharaohs at Stade Olympique de Diamniadio in Dakar on Tuesday 29 March.
The Pharaohs and Lions of Teranga are bidding to secure a place in the prestigious tournament that will take place in Qatar from 21 November to 18 December 2022.
“We have a dream of lifting the Egyptian flag in the 2022 World Cup,” Egyptian Football Association (EFA) President Gamal Allam said after Sunday’s training session.
“All the players are motivated to achieve victory over Senegal on Tuesday to return to Cairo with a ticket to the 2022 World Cup to please the Egyptian people,” the EFA boss added.
Egypt’s early trainings witnessed the appearance of two veteran international defenders — Pyramids FC’s Ali Gabr, 33, and Ahly’s Ramy Rabia, 29 — who have been called on by coach Carlos Queiroz to compensate for shortages in the team’s defence, given that first-choice defenders Mohamed Abdel-Moneim and Mahmoud El-Wensh will be missing the second leg game.
Ahly’s defender Abdel-Moneim, 23, broke his nose and left the pitch in the first half of the Pharaohs’ 1-0 narrow win over Senegal in the first leg game in Cairo on Friday.
Furthermore, Zamalek’s Mahmoud El-Wensh, 26, who received his second yellow card in the same game, will also miss this final clash.
Egypt claimed a first-leg advantage in their World Cup qualifying playoff on Friday thanks to an early own goal from Saliou Ciss.
The Pharaohs only need a draw with Senegal in Dakar to book a place in the FIFA World Cup.
Both the Lions of Teranga and the Pharaohs are eyeing a second successive World Cup appearance.
Senegal reached the FIFA World Cup finals twice — once in 2002 and the other in 2018 — while Egypt made it to the prestigious tournament three times in 1934, 1990, and 2018.
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