Egypt’s upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) double qualifier against Mauritania could help seal an early passage for the former champions.

The Pharaohs currently lead Group C with six points after victories over Cape Verde (3-0) and Botswana (4-0) in their opening two matches.

Mauritania are third in the group of four with three points after beating Botswana (1-0) and losing to Cape Verde (2-0).

Should Egypt beat Mauritania on Friday 11 October in Cairo, as is expected, and again in Nouakchott on 15 October — not easy but not impossible against a team ranked 112 in the world — the North Africans would be in pole position to qualify for next year’s AFCON in Morocco.

As it stands in Group C after two games and four games left: Egypt have six points, Cape Verde and Mauritania with three points apiece (and both a -1 goal difference) and Botswana zero.

The qualifiers put 48 nations into 12 groups of four, with the top two teams from each group securing their place in Morocco.

Egypt have a record seven AFCON titles but the last was lifted in 2010. The 14-year gap is a lot for a former champion and in a tournament held every two years.

Earlier this year, in the Ivory Coast, Egypt left the AFCON in the round of 16, knocked out by the DR Congo.

Against Mauritania, the squad will be missing veterans Ahmed Hegazi, Mohamed Al-Nenni and Imam Ashour, who are fit but have not been selected. It also includes central defender Mohamed Abdel-Moneim, currently playing for French club Nice.

Zamalek’s goalkeeper Mohamed Awad and midfielder Nabil Emad have been called up, while right-back Omar Gaber, striker Mohamed Sherif and Sam Morsi, who captains Premier League club Ipswich Town, have been left out. Mohamed Hani is also missing due to injury.

Mauritania have just three points from their opening two games. Their most notable names are AEK Athens winger Aboubakary Koita and ex-Fulham striker Aboubakar Kamara.

Following Egypt’s first two group wins, first-year coach Hossam Hassan emphasised the need to “remain focused on future challenges.”

“We’ve had a great start, but what’s coming is more important. There are no easy games in Africa, as the gaps between teams are not wide,” Hassan, a journeyman coach who had never taken up Egypt’s helm, and is the country’s all-time international goal scorer, affirmed.

Egypt’s relatively weak Group C has not only made an AFCON appearance almost inevitable but also pushed Egypt’s national football team in FIFA’s September world rankings to 31st, up from 36th since the July rankings.

The team’s jump can be credited to their victories against Cape Verde and Botswana.

The Pharaohs now hold third place in Africa, trailing only Morocco and Senegal. They are also second in the Arab world behind Morocco.

Morocco stayed in 14th position, solidifying its standing as the top-ranked African team, while Senegal dropped two places to 21st.

Last week, Senegal coach Aliou Cissé, who led the team to an Africa Cup of Nations title and the past two World Cup tournaments, lost his job with the national football federation citing a government request not to renew his contract.

Cissé was nearing 10 years in charge of the Teranga Lions.

The 2025 AFCON is scheduled to begin on 21 December 2025 and will culminate with the final on 18 January 2026.

Ivory Coast are the defending champions.

Egypt’s squad
Goalkeepers: Mohamed Al-Shenawi (Ahly), Mohamed Awad (Zamalek), Al-Mahdi Suleiman (Ittihad of Alexandria), and Mustafa Shobeir (Ahly).

Defenders: Mohamed Abdel-Moneim (Nice, France), Rami Rabia (Ahly), Ahmed Ramadan (Ceramica Cleopatra), Khaled Sobhi (Masri), Mohamed Hamdi (Pyramids), Mohamed Shehata (Zamalek), Ahmed Nabil Kouka (Ahly), and Ahmed Eid (Masri).

Midfielders: Hamdi Fathi (Al-Wakrah, Qatar), Marwan Attia (Ahly), Nasser Maher (Zamalek), Ahmed Sayed Zizo (Zamalek), Nabil Emad (Zamalek), Mahmoud Trezeguet (Al-Rayyan, Qatar), Omar Marmoush (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, England), Mustafa Fathi (Pyramids), and Ibrahim Adel (Pyramids).

Forwards: Mustafa Mohamed (Nantes, France), and Osama Faisal (NBE Club).

* A version of this article appears in print in the 10 October, 2024 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly