Preview: injury-hit Egypt open World Cup qualifying campaign at minnows Chad

Egypt will have to do without four key players when they visit Chad on Saturday at 16:30 CLT

An injury–hit Egypt side will be eyeing an auspicious start to their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign when they visit minnows Chad in N'Djaména on Saturday.
The Pharaohs, who last reached the World Cup in 1990, will now be hoping things will go their way this time around, after agonisingly missing out on the last edition following an aggregate 7-3 playoff defeat to Ghana en route to the Brazil finals.
But changes has been made to the qualifying phase this time – with teams prevailing in the double-legged second round reaching a five four-team group-stage whose winners make it to the Russia finals.
Chad should not pose a great obstacle to Hector Cuper's men, who managed to thrash their very opponents 5-1 in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in September.
But Egypt are not ready to rest on their laurels and underestimate their opponents, who have recently appointed ex-Cameroon veteran Rigobert Song as manager.
"Chad are not the same team whom we defeated 5-1 last September, " Egypt assistant manager Osama Nabih said.
"Song's leadership characteristics and enthusiastic personality is likely to make things more difficult for us when we face them this time.
"For sure he has a different mentality regarding his side's attacking, defensive positioning and movement without the ball.
"And given that Song has been recently appointed as Chad coach, and that it's his first game as manager, Chad are not going to be an easy opponent," Nabih concluded.
Key quartet miss out
Egypt will not go to Chad at full strength, however, with key quartet Mohamed Salah, Mohamed Abdel-Shafi, Rami Rabia and Hazem Emam all missing out.
AS Roma star Salah sustained an ankle injury during his side's 2-0 Seria A win over Lazio, as he will be sidelined for a period ranging between four and six weeks.
Similarly, Ahly Jeddah left-back Mohamed Abdel-Shafi picked up an injury during a Saudi league match, while center-back Ramy Rabia and right-back Hazem Emam were ruled out due to lack of fitness.
The injury of Salah forced the Egypt management to call up Zamalek wide forward Mostafa Fathi as a replacement, while Ahly full-back Ayman Ashraf was selected to act as a deputy for Sabri Rahil who is set to fill in the left-back slot.
Apart from the injury absences, the squad flying to Chad has witnessed the return of Ahly skipper Hossam Ghaly - who has been out of the management's plans for quite a long time - as he heads a list of nine Ahly players.
Interestingly, Ahly winger Ramadan Sobhi was not among the list, with Cuper being candid about the Ahly youngster's omission saying it was down to the latter's repeated showboating in the Super Cup game against Zamalek.
As to the team's playing style, Cuper hinted he is likely to use a 4-4-2 formation, as he believes the format fits nicely with his players' abilities.
He is expected to field a strike partnership comprising Zamalek forward Bassem Morsi and Sporting Braga's Ahmed Hassan 'Kouka', who has been in quite good form of late.
Zamalek wide man Mahmoud 'Kahraba' is likely to start out on the flank, as it remains to be seen who will deputise for the injured Salah on the other side of the pitch.
Despite the inclusion of Ahly skipper Hossam Ghaly, the Argentine boss implied that he prefers Zamalek holder Tarek Hamed and Basel's Mohamed Elneny in the central midfield role.
After taking on Chad away from home, Egypt will host the African minnows three days later at Borg El-Arab Stadium, in a match that will see 25,000 fans allowed to cheer on their side.
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