Preview: Egypt in make-or-break tie at minnows Botswana

A slew of players are injured and their defence will feature new faces - can the Pharaohs pull off a win in Botswana on Friday?

Egypt will have no option but to secure a win over Botswana away from home when both sides face off in the 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifiers on Friday.
Having failed to claim a single point from their two opening games against Senegal and Tunisia, the Pharaohs now have a make-or-break tie against outsiders Botswana – who are also pointless at the bottom of Group G.
The significance of the match arises from the fact that the record-holding seven-time African champions Egypt can hardly afford to miss out on a third consecutive CAN berth, after uncharacteristically failing to qualify for the previous two editions.
Another flop could well signal the end of the tenure of yet another Egypt manager, Shawky Gharib, who took over in November last year and whose two predecessors were also let ago after disappointing performances.
"I'm not in charge of Egypt the African champions, everyone must know well that we're in a rebuilding process," Gharib, who was assistant to manager Hassan Shehata during Egypt's six-year glory era, told reporters.
"We are doing our best in the midst of dire conditions and injury absences, but still our main focus is to beat Botswana.
"A win over Botswana in the next two games could give us hope to qualify for the African tournament. We are determined enough to make it."
Gharib will not be facing the best of conditions against Botswana, though, with the absence of first-choice keeper Sherif Ekramy and Hull City right-back Ahmed Elmohamady due to respective knee and back injuries taking a toll on his team.
The Egypt coach will also be forced to do without Zamalek right-back Hazem Emam, lauded for his performance in the 1-0 home defeat by Tunisia – but out with an injury and thus minimising the 55-year-old coach's options on the right flank.
This means that Ahmed Fathi will be Gharib's man on the right, while highly-rated Zamalek keeper Ahmed El-Shennawy is set to claim his role between the sticks.
But it's not only injuries that Gharib will have to overcome, as the lack of form of some of his key players, especially Chelsea winger Mohamed Salah, presents another daunting issue.
Salah, who has made just a few appearances for the Blues this season, looked rusty against both Senegal and Tunisia – depriving the national side of his mesmerising skills and mazy runs that usually unsettle opponents.
New faces
What could be different this time around, however, is Egypt's defence, which is set to feature new faces that could well be making their international debut.
Following the lackluster displays of Ali Ghazal and Ahmed Saied 'Okka', the center-back duo was omitted from the squad after being largely blamed for the opening defeats.
Gharib's rearguard could now see newly-signed Zamalek defender Ali Gabr and Ahly's Saad Samir partner each other at the heart of the defence, following the pair's great displays recently.
And given that Egypt are in dire need for a win, Gharib – an advocate of the 3-5-2 formation – will likely field a four-man backline despite the match being away from home.
On the left, Mohamed Abdel-Shafy – who joined Saudi side Ahly Jeddah on loan from Zamalek – is almost certain of his spot at full-back as Sabry Rahil will provide backup.
In midfield, Zamalek holding midfielder Ibrahim Salah could be given the nod ahead of Hossam Ghaly, whose displays against Senegal and Tunisia have been far from convincing.
But it's the attacking midfield where Gharib has a wealth of options, with in-form Ahly winger Walid Soliman, Basel's Ahmed Hamoudi, Zamalek's Ayman Hefni and Chelsea's Salah all available.
Up front, Gharib's options has been only restricted to Khaled Kamar and Amr Gamal, after Hany El-Egeizy pulled out due to injury.
Whether Egypt will rise to the occasion and pull off a much-needed win at Botswana remains to be seen, having failed before to claim a win at the African minnows following their 2006 CAN triumph.
The CAN qualifying return match even saw the then-African champions labour to a 1-0 victory, suggesting that their unfancied opponents have never been a very feeble side.
But it's not only the game in Gaborone that Egypt need to win, as the African powerhouses will need another crucial victory in the return game five days later to keep alive their qualification chances.
(For more sports news and updates, follow AhramOnline Sports on Twitter at@AO_Sportsand on Facebook atAhramOnlineSports.)
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/112685.aspx