Full time: Congo 1-2 Egypt 90+3 The referee blows the final whistle!!! Egypt top Group E after the first round of qualifiers. 90+2 After a superb one-two with Salah, El-Said goes through on goal, with keeper Mouyabi again thwarting!! 90+1 Ramadan breaks clear down the left but the keeper eventually denies him! 90' The referee gives three minutes of stoppage time. 86' An excellent save from El-Hadari, with the home side mounting pressure in the final minutes! 85' Substitute Epako was taken off as Ibara comes on. 83' WHAT A CHANCE!!! A sublime dummy from Ramadan allowed El-Said to strike directly towards goal, only to see his effort go narrowly high!! 79' A long-waited substitution; Ramadan Sobhi comes in for Trezeguet. 76' Delarge comes in for Moukassa. 74' How close!!! Abdel-Shafi clears off the line to prevent what seemed to be a certain goal!! 70' Bassem Morsi makes way for Ahmed Hassan 'Kouka'. 68' Having taken the lead, Egypt are now sitting back, relying on Salah's pace on the counter. 65' Hamed goes into the referee's book after a fierce foul on Bifouma. 62' A free kick for El-Said after being fouled on the right. 58' A stunning through ball from Tarek Hamed released Salah down the right before the Roma man cut back to the onrushing El-Said who found the top of the net!! Excellent from Egypt!! 58' GOAAAALLLLL!!!!!! EL-SAID!!!! 55' Substitute Epako cautioned by the ref after a rude challenge on Salah. 53' Egypt need to show more intensity in regaining possession, Congo have been in control for quite a while now! 50' After a short spell of dominance from the hosts, Egypt finally look to counter through Salah but the attack goes for nothing! 47' That was close! Ondama heads narrowly wide a corner kick to threaten El-Hadary's goal just after the break!! 46' Second half begins! 46' Epako comes in for Itoua for Congo's first substitution of the game. 45+2 The ref blows the half-time whistle! 45' After the referee halted play due to an apparent injury to Congo's keeper, two minutes of added time are now given. 40' A superb cross from left-back Abdel-Shafi into the area headed in by Salah away from the keeper's reach for Egypt's equalizer! 40' GOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!!!! SALAH!!! 39' With Egypt dominating, the hosts will be looking to hit on the counter capitalizing on the vast spaces behind. 37' Congo seems to be focusing on their right flank, occupied by left-back Abdel-Shafi 35' Salah making superb runs in behind, yet seems incapable yet to find the back of Congo's net!! 30' Gaber commits a rash challenge against Moukassa down the touchline. 26' With Egypt pouring forward in search of the equalizer, El-Hadary was called into action to make an excellent save and deny Ondama's shot from outside the box!! 24' Dore heads past keeper El-Hadary following a cross from Bifouma, with defender Gabr caught napping!! 24' GOAL! Congo take the lead through Dore! 19' Salah surges down the right before seeing his shot kept away by the keeper!! 18' Trezeguet receives the ball in space in front of the area before opting to strike first time towards goal. with the keeper saving. 14' Elneny clears a corner away as Trezeguet attempts to launch a counter attack but the ball goes out for a throw. 12' Hamed makes another challenge in the center of the park! 9' Elneny commits a foul against striker Dore, who dropped deep in midfield. 8' Ali Gabr clears away before Bifouma, out for corner! 4' Veteran keeper El-Hadary keeps a dangerous cross away from the right! Good from the Egypt guardian! 2' Bassem Morsi attempts a cross after receinving the ball in space but goes out for a throw! 1' Kick off! 16:25 The national anthems are currently being played. 16:15 Cuper looks to be continuing with his favored 4-2-3-1 formation, with Hamed and Elneny in midfield and Abdallah El-Said at the top of the trio. 15:50 Congo starting line-up: Gildas Mouyabi - Marvin Baudry, Moris Moubhio Ngonga, Gervaise Elga Bakoua, Bruno Itoua - Imouele, Jordan Massengo, Kessel Tsiba – Thievy Bifouma, Ferebory Doré, Fabrice Ondama 15:40 Unlike previous games, Cuper decided to field Tarek Hamed as holding midfielder in front of the defense instead of Ibrahim Salah. 15:10 Cuper started with a familiar center-back duo at the heart of the defense, with Islam Gamal given the chance to partner Zamalek team-mate Ali Gabr at the back. Argentinean coach Hector Cuper has replaced goalie Ahmed El-Shenawy with veteran 43-year-old keeper Essam El-Hadary. 14:40 Egypt's starting lineup: Essam El-Hadary; Mohamed Abdel-Shafi, Ali Gabr, Islam Gamal, Omar Gaber; Mohamed El-Neny, Tarek Hamed; Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet, Abdalla El-Saied, Mohamed Salah; Bassem Morsi 14:20 Heavy rains invade Stade Municipal de Kintele in Brazzavill a few hours before the Congo vs. Egypt game in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, according to Egypt's national team director Ehab Leheta 13:30 Egypt's probable lineup: Ahmed El-Sehnawy; Mohamed Abdel-Shafi, Ali Gabr, Islam Gamal, Omar Gaber; Mohamed El-Neny, Tarek Hamed, Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet, Abdalla El-Saied, Mohamed Salah; Bassem Morsi 13:00 Cuper is likely to field a three-man midfield behind two attacking midfielders and a lone striker, with Zamalek's Bassem Morsi, who is enjoying a fine run, expected to fill the latter position. 12:30 Egypt coach Hector Cuper, who experienced near-misses during his reign in charge of Valencia when the Spanish side lost two successive UEFA Champions League finals to Real Madrid and Bayern Munich more than 15 years ago, is confident Egypt can win an opening Group E clash on the road when they face Congo in Brazzaville on Sunday. 12:00 Egypt, who lost in two playoffs to Algeria and Ghana in 2009 and 2013 respectively, are desperate to go one step further and book a place at the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia, having been absent from the football's most prestigious showpiece since 1990. Stay tuned as match is due to start at 16:30 Cairo time (GMT+2) Venue: Stade Municipal de Kintele, Brazzaville (Congo) Referee: Denis Dembele (Ivory Coast) Check the match full preview here (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
