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Egypt face Kenya in last warm-up before Senegal clash Egypt meet Kenya in a friendly game on Saturday to prepare for their opening African Nations Cup qualifier away to Senegal
Egypt host Kenya in the Upper Egyptian city of Aswan on Saturday in their last warm-up before facing Senegal away from home in their opening African Nations Cup qualifier on 5 September, which will mark the competitive debut of head coach Shawky Gharib. Gharib is tasked with rebuilding an underachieving side after replacing American coach Bob Bradley, who departed after the team failed to end a 24-year World Cup absence following a humiliating 7-3 aggregate defeat by Ghana in a qualifying playoff last year. Several of Egypt's veterans who formed the backbone of a highly successful side that won three straight Nations Cup titles in 2006, 2008 and 2010 are already unavailable as Gharib focuses on injecting new blood to make up for recent woes. Key players Mohamed Abou-Treika and Wael Gomaa have retired while others including striker Amr Zaki and midfielder Hosni Abd-Rabou are struggling for consistency as they approach the twilight of their careers. Egypt's current squad includes 12 foreign-based players, including five who are based in Portugal. However, they will be unavailable for the Kenya friendly due to their European commitments, with the exception of right-back Ahmed Fathi who recently joined Qatar's Umm Salal. The Kenya game, Egypt's fourth friendly under Gharib, will take place at a renovated stadium in Aswan, which can host 10,000 spectators. The Pharaohs will then fly to Dakar to play Senegal in their opening game of Group G, which also includes North African rivals Tunisia and minnows Botswana. "A strong start is very important. Yes, the Senegalese team will be boosted by their fans on their home field, but we have no choice but to win," Gharib told state news agency MENA Thursday. "We already know that we are in a very difficult group but we want our flag return to the place it deserves in the Afriacn football scene." Egypt defeated Bosnia 2-0, lost 3-2 to Chile and played out an exciting 2-2 draw with Jamaica in their three friendlies under Gharib. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at@AO_Sportsand on Facebook atAhramOnlineSports.) http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/109516.aspx
