Egypt, Angola open 2027 AFCON qualifying at Cairo Stadium

Egypt host Angola in the first round of 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying at Cairo Stadium on Friday night.

• Angola striker Debo will miss the match with health problems that prevented him travelling to Cairo, Angola press reported.
• Angola goalkeeper Hugo Marques called Egypt's Mostafa Shobeir one of Africa's best players and cautioned that Egypt are strong on set pieces.
• Egypt coach Hossam Hassan, unbeaten in three previous meetings with Angola as player and coach, faces the visitors in the qualifiers' opening round.
• The match, kicking off at 10 p.m. Cairo time, is broadcast free on On Sport.
• Egypt's Transport Ministry extended Cairo Metro and East Nile monorail operating hours until 2 a.m. Saturday for the match.
• Hossam Hassan's expected lineup pairs Mohamed Salah with Omar Marmoush up front, with the central defensive spot split between Abdelmonem and Abdelmajid.
• Egypt, Angola, South Sudan, and Malawi are grouped in qualifiers hosted by Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya.
• Egypt will wear a red shirt, white shorts and black socks, and Angola black shirts, black shorts and red socks, per the technical meeting.
• Commentator Mohamed El-Kawaliny will call the qualifier on On Sport.
• Egypt's bench against Angola includes goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy's understudy and five other professionals left out of the starting lineup.
• Egypt had a goal disallowed during the first half of the qualifier against Angola at Cairo Stadium.
• Angola's goalkeeper made a strong save to deny a shot from Mohamed Salah on Friday night.