Egypt home-based team winger Mohamed "Afsha" Magdi celebrates scoring the victory goal against Tunisia in a friendly. Photo: EFA official facebook page.
Mohamed "Afsha" Magdi scored the only goal of the match in the 31st minute with a powerful strike from inside the area, taking advantage of a well-timed assist from Marwan Hamdi.
Hamdi came close to doubling the lead in the 35th minute, but his solo effort was thwarted by the Tunisian defence.
Two minutes later, Hamdi found space again inside the area and unleashed a right-footed shot, only to see his attempt blocked by Tunisia's goalkeeper.
Toulan made a substitution at halftime, replacing Hamdi with Modern Sport striker Hossam Hassan in a bid to test his attacking options ahead of the tournament.
The Tunisian team, which fielded a home-based squad, showed a stronger performance in the second half but were unable to break down Egypt’s defence.
The two teams will meet again on 9 September for a second friendly as both sides finalise their preparations for the Arab Cup.
Egypt has been drawn into Group C of the Arab Cup alongside Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and the winner of the qualifier between Mauritania and Kuwait.
In a boost to the tournament’s prestige, the Local Organising Committee confirmed that the 2025 Arab Cup will feature a record prize pool of $36.5 million, aimed at elevating its profile on the international football stage.
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has decided to field a B team in the Arab Cup, as the senior side will be competing in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 at the same time. The AFCON will be held in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
Short link: