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Opponent focus: Zimbabwe
Published in FilGoal on 24 - 03 - 2013


Current FIFA Ranking: 100
History against Egypt: The Tolba miss!
Head-to-head: Egypt wins 5, Zimbabwe wins 1, Draws 4
Zimbabwe have only recorded a single victory in 10 encounters against Egypt, yet the Warriors will always be remembered by Egyptians for a major upset in the 1994 World Cup qualifiers.
After winning 2-1 in Harare, the outsiders were braced for a decisive finale as they only needed to avoid defeat in Cairo to make it to the final qualifiers.
An Ashraf Kasem penalty and a spectacular goal from Hossam Hassan were enough to send Egypt through, only for the 2-1 win to be rescinded by CAF for alleged violence by the home fans.
The replay match was held in Lyon, with Zimbabwe holding on for a goalless draw to snatch top spot and make it to the final round, depriving Mahmoud Al-Gohari's men of a second World Cup ticket in a row.
One incident that can hardly be forgotten by any Egypt fan was that horrendous miss by Magdi Tolba; a gaffe that may go down as one of the defining moments in the Pharaohs football history.
Tolba miss
Hossam Hassan goal
Coach: Klaus-Dieter Pagels
Despite being 63, Pagels has not been to a coaching experience of note as he was only a technical advisor for Zimbabwe before being promoted to replace Rahman Gumbo last November.
He is the third German to take charge of the Warriors after Rudi Gutendorf and the late Reinhard Fabisch; the man who frustrated Egypt in 1993.
Pagels is still regarded as an interim coach though, with the Zimbabwe FA handing him the task of leading the team through the World Cup qualifiers and the regional COSAFA Cup.
His primary job is to rebuild a team that was sensationally disbanded following the failure to reach the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
Man to watch: Knowledge Musona
Musona is the only survivor from the 11 who started Zimbabwe's last competitive game against Mozambique and is regarded as the Warriors main source of goals.
The 22-year-old is also one of just three Europe-based players in Pagels' squad, having been plying his trade in Germany since 2011 with Hoffenheim, who loaned him to Augsburg last year.
Even though he has yet to score in 11 Bundesliga appearances for Augsburg, Musona boasts a superb goalscoring record for his nation with nine in 14 so far.
Recent form: Winless
Zimbabwe are facing a torrid time in the World Cup qualifiers, having only registered one point from their opening two games against Guinea and Mozambique ahead of a tough Egypt double-header.
Under Pagels though, they managed a victory in the German's first game in charge, impressively beating Botswana 2-1with a reshuffled squad of players.
Interesting fact: Match-fixing scandal
Late in 2012, the Zimbabwe football association (ZIFA) has dissolved the entire first team before sacking manager Gumbo, following the failure to reach the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
However, the major reshuffle is believed to have been triggered by an infamous 2009 match-fixing scandal that resulted in life bans for 15 players and officials.
The revamped Zimbabwe squad who will face Egypt include only three survivors from the side who lost 2-0 to Angola in the Warriors' last competitive game.


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