File Photo: Egyptian Forward Trezeguet shoots the ball during the match between Egypt and Ethiopia. Photo courtesy pf EFA.
The Pharaohs are aiming for their fourth-ever World Cup appearance, having previously qualified in 1934, 1990, and 2018.
A victory against Ethiopia would further strengthen their lead in Group A and could secure an early ticket to the prestigious tournament, provided they also win their upcoming match against Burkina Faso.
Currently, Egypt lead Group A with 16 points from six matches, five points ahead of second-placed Burkina Faso with Sierra Leone sitting third with eight points, while Ethiopia is fourth with six points, tied with fifth-placed Guinea-Bissau. Djibouti trails at the bottom with just one point.
Head coach Hossam Hassan is expected to continue relying on the attacking talents of Liverpool star Mohamed Salah and Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush, despite their recent struggles with their respective clubs.
Hassan has made minor adjustments to the squad due to injuries, including a call-up for NBE Club defender Amr El Gazar, as Ahly defender Yasser Ibrahim is sidelined with a muscle injury and Nice's Mohamed Abdelmonem is out with a lengthy ACL injury.
Zamalek midfielder Mohamed Shehata is another notable absence, while talented playmaker Nasser Maher has struggled to find consistent form.
Midfielder Marwan Attia, who has recovered from a hernia that kept him out at the start of the season, has been included in the squad.
The seven-time Africa champions will enjoy the support of 50,000 fans, who will be allowed to attend the match following an agreement between the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) and local authorities.
Moreover, Egypt will also look to assert their dominance over Ethiopia, having won 13 of their previous 18 encounters, while the visitors have claimed three victories and two matches ended in draws.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
Short link: