Egypt’s national team secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Sierra Leone in their sixth-round fixture of the African qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The match, played at Cairo International Stadium on Tuesday, saw the Pharaohs extend their lead at the top of Group A to five points.
The only goal of the game came just before halftime, courtesy of winger Ahmed ‘Zizo’ Sayed, who capitalized on a precise assist from Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan.
With this win, Egypt remains firmly in control of the group standings with 16 points from six matches, maintaining a comfortable lead over Burkina Faso, who sit in second place with 11 points.
Sierra Leone, meanwhile, holds onto third place with eight points.
Head coach Hossam Hassan opted for a 4-3-3 setup, moving away from the 3-4-3 formation used in their previous match against Ethiopia.
He also introduced two changes to his starting lineup, bringing in Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed and Ahly defender Ahmed ‘Koka’ Nabil.
From the outset, Egypt dominated possession, pinning Sierra Leone in their half. However, breaking down the visitors’ disciplined defense proved to be a challenge.
The Pharaohs’ first clear sight of goal came in the 16th minute when captain Mohamed Salah fired a left-footed effort from the edge of the box, only to see it sail over the crossbar.
Six minutes later, Trezeguet latched onto a through ball on the left flank, cutting inside before testing Sierra Leone goalkeeper Alhaji Sesay, who was equal to the task.
Despite relentless pressure, Egypt struggled to create clear-cut chances. In the 32nd minute, Salah combined well with Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush, who found himself in space but sent his shot off target.
Just before halftime, Salah set up Trezeguet in a one-on-one situation, but the forward failed to control the ball, allowing Sesay to gather it comfortably.
The breakthrough finally arrived in first-half stoppage time. Trezeguet delivered a pinpoint pass to Zizo, who made no mistake, slotting the ball home with his left foot.
It was his fourth international goal in 46 appearances, handing Egypt a deserved lead at the break.
Second-Half Efforts and Defensive Resilience
Egypt resumed the second half with the same intensity, pressing for a second goal. Just two minutes in, midfielder Marwan Attia struck the woodwork with a fierce long-range effort.
In the 54th minute, Marmoush surged down the left wing and squared the ball to Salah, whose left-footed attempt veered wide of the post.
Sierra Leone had a moment of controversy in the 66th minute when a shot struck substitute defender Hamdy Fathy’s arm inside the box.
However, the referee waved away penalty appeals, allowing play to continue.
A minute later, Zizo made a dangerous run into the area, but his intended pass to Marmoush failed to find its mark.
Both sides created opportunities in the final moments, but neither could alter the scoreline, with Egypt securing a hard-fought 1-0 win.
What’s Next for the Pharaohs?
Egypt will return to action in September when they take on fourth-placed Ethiopia in the next round of World Cup qualifiers, aiming to solidify their position at the top of Group A.
