File Photo: Egypt winger Mohamed Salah trying to control the ball during the 2-1 win over Burkina Faso in the African 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Ahram.
The Pharaohs currently lead Group A with 19 points, five ahead of second-placed Burkina Faso after seven rounds.
A win against the Burkinabe side on Tuesday would guarantee Egypt’s qualification for the 2026 tournament.
Head coach Hossam Hassan is expecting a tough contest, stating, "We are taking it one game at a time, doing our best to secure a positive result in each match. The match against Burkina Faso will be tough; there are no weak teams in African football. The hardest part is yet to come."
Burkina Faso, who typically play their qualifiers in Morocco, have opted to host Egypt in Ouagadougou this time, seeking to capitalize on home advantage.
"We are ready, even though the venue change was unexpected. They’ve played all their previous qualifiers in Morocco, but now they’ve insisted on hosting this one at home," Hassan said.
Defensive and midfield concerns
Hassan, who took over as Egypt's coach earlier this year, has had to navigate multiple injury setbacks in the lead-up to the match.
Prior to the win over Ethiopia, several squad changes were made, including the absence of Ahly defender Yasser Ibrahim (muscle strain) and Nice centre-back Mohamed Abdelmonem (recovering from ACL surgery). In response, Hassan called up NBE Club defender Amr El Gazar.
“We’ve had to deal with several injuries. Abdelmonem is out, and Rabia is only just recovering. That’s why I had to bring in new faces to cover the gaps,” Hassan explained.
In addition, key midfielder Hamdi Fathy, who featured in the win over Ethiopia, has been ruled out due to injury.
Mohanad Lasheen, who sustained a back injury during the same match, will remain with the team and his fitness will be reassessed before Tuesday's game.
However, midfielder Marwan Attia, who was suspended against Ethiopia, will now be available for selection.
Burkina Faso ready for battle
Burkina Faso's national team director Mohamed Koffi emphasized the importance of the fixture, calling it a "highly anticipated summit" and a challenging test for both teams.
"The match between Burkina Faso and Egypt will be of a high level and will not be easy for either side," Koffi told the Egyptian Football Association.
"Our team is prepared and determined to produce a positive result. Both teams are mentally focused, and there is no room for mistakes in this decisive game," he added.
Egypt claimed a narrow 2-1 victory over Burkina Faso at Cairo International Stadium in June, and both sides will be looking to keep their hopes of reaching the World Cup finals alive.
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