EGYPT vs. GHANA Kickoff: 18.00 CLT African World Cup qualifying playoffs – Second Leg Venue: Air Defense Stadium, Cairo Referee: Noumandiez Doué (Ivory Coast) MATCH FACTS -The first-leg result was Egypt's worst competitive defeat since a 6-0 defeat to Hungary at the 1964 Olympics Games. -The Kumasi thrashing was also Egypt's biggest-ever defeat against an African side. -After his first-leg brace, Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan is only one goal short of equaling his nation's all-time goalscoring record of 40 goals by Edward Acquah & Kwasi Owusu. -Egypt midfielder Hosni Abd-Rabou is set to make his 100th international appearance, becoming the third Egyptian in nearly two months to reach the milestone. -Ghana's 24-man squad includes zero players from local clubs, Egypt have 18. -The last time Egypt failed to score was 14 matches ago when they lost 3-0 to Ghana in a friendly. -Egypt forward Geddo is without a competitive goal since his memorable CAN 2010 winner against Ghana in Angola. -Egypt have not failed to score in any competitive game under Bob Bradley so far, with a record of 20 goals in nine matches. -Following his goal in the first-leg, Egypt's Mohamed Abou-Treika will end his career after scoring against 19 different African nations, only Hossam Hassan has a better record. QUOTES Egypt coach Bob Bradley "I have not lost hope to qualify for the World Cup. Nothing is impossible in football and we still have 90 minutes to fight and I give it our all. Furthermore I trust in my players. "The Kumasi defeat was painful for me as a head coach as well as for the players and we will play for our pride and Egypt in the next match "When I came to Egypt two years ago I knew that is would be a difficult mission to reach the World Cup especially with the turbulent atmosphere but I accepted it because I love challenges. Now I want to play good one great match before maybe leaving Egypt. "Egypt at the moment sadly is a divided country and I told [the squad] we must be different, we must be united. "We must find a way where we can not only be strong as a team but maybe be a good example for everyone - and that is still what we are all about." Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah "I said in Ghana that we've played the first half of the competition and we are now going to play the second half," he said. "I have made the players aware that we should get on that Egyptian pitch with the mind that we are even down by a goal or two and we are going to redeem those two goals. "For that reason, we are going out there to play all out and try and win." TEAM NEWS Egypt omitted England-based full-back Ahmed Elmohamady from the squad who lost in Ghana, with Zamalek's Hazem Emam pushing for his competitive debut in right-back. The Pharaohs are hopeful of retrieving the services of influential midfielder Hosni Abd-Rabou, who was not fit for the first leg following knee surgery. Bradley is set to make a number of changes to the side that were hammered in Kumasi, with striker Amr Zaki looking set to start upfront. Walid Soliman, who played the full match in Kumasi, has been struggling with a knee problem but is only a slight doubt. At the other end, Ghana are boosted by the return of star midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng after missing the Kumasi win with a knee injury. Full-back Harrison Afful returns from suspension and is set to play in right-back, but John Boye, Jonathan Mensah and Mohamed Rabiu remain sidelined.
