Egypt coach Hector Cuper has said he is confident about his players' ability to beat Uganda in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, as well as to reach the international tournament's finals in Russia. "We are preparing well for the upcoming Uganda game as it will be crucial game in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers," the Argentinian told a press conference on Thursday. The Pharaohs will face Uganda in the third round of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers on 31 August in Uganda at the Mandela National Stadium. The two nations will meet again on 5 September at Alexandria's Borg El-Arab Stadium. "We are working now to prepare the domestic players who arrived in the closed camp three days ago, and are awaiting the arrival of the foreign-based players who will come 27-28 August," Cuper added. "I am confident of the players' ability to overcome Uganda as well as easing the way to the World Cup finals," he said. "We studied the Uganda team well and we know how to face them in the two-leg game," the Argentinean coach said during the press conference. "I am following domestic and foreign-based players so I didn't determine the final squad." "I am worried about the late arrival of the foreign-based players, only three days before the game, as Uganda is a tough team and they have a brilliant left-back as well as a good defence." "We are concentrating now on the Uganda game and I am not thinking of any other game in the qualifiers," the Egypt coach concluded. The Pharaohs' last competitive game was against Tunisia in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in June at Rades Stadium in Tunisia, when they lost 1-0. Topping Group E in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers with six points, the Pharaohs are looking for a victory in the Ugandan capital to boost their qualification chances. Egypt last made it to the World Cup in 1990, and hope to end their 28-year wait with an appearance in Russia next year. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
