A 74,000 capacity crowd is expected to horde the Cairo International Stadium on Friday to watch hosts Egypt take on DR Congo in the quarter-finals of the African Cup of Nations. The hosts will be under tremendous pressure to perform against the relatively easy Congolese side after being spared face the indomitable lions of Cameroon. Egypt will be without two key-players in Friday's encounter. Tottenham striker Ahmed Hossam "Mido" is still nursing a strained groin injury while playmaker Mohamed Abou-Treika is suspended for the Congo game after picking-up two yellow cards in the first round. Egypt's coaching staff is not sweating over the issue and assistant manager Shawki Gharib insisted the Pharaohs have a sufficient arsenal of players that can help overcome the quarter-finals hurdle. Captain Ahmed Hassan is expected to fill in for Abou-Treika in the playmaker role while Amr Zaki, returning from injury, or veteran striker Hossam Hassan will pair up with Emad Meteb up front. Nevertheless, Gharib uttered the utmost respect for the Congolese team whom he believes, despite contrary belief, is a very strong side. "They got past World Cup finalists Angola and Togo. They are a very respectable team with who have many talents within their ranks," said Gharib. Egypt's expected line-up: Essam Al-Hadari, Ibrahim Saied, Wael Gomaa, Abdul-Zaher Al-Saqqa, Mohamed Barakat, Mohamed Shawki, Hassan Mostafa, Mohamed Abdul-Wahab, Ahmed Hassan, Amr Zaki (Hossam Hassan), Emad Meteb.
Will Hossam replace Mido in Egypt's line-up? Congo coach Claude LeRoy was equally full of admiration for the Egyptian team but said the hosts will be under pressure to win. "They are runaway favorites, they are on the way up and we are heading in the other direction," LeRoy told reporters ahead of the game. "I was here for a final against Egypt 20 years ago so I know how the momentum gets built up," he added. LeRoy has more than his opponents and their fans to worry about on Friday as Congo will be without three suspended players in Gladys Bokese, Tshimalanga Kabundi and Tresor Mputu. The Frenchman will however have something to celebrate regardless of the game's outcome. LeRoy will set a new African Nations Cup record on when he takes charge of his 22nd game at the finals, surpassing Polish counterpart Henry Kasperczak. The 58-year-old manager already set a record of leading five different teams in the finals. Earlier in Alexandria, surprise package Guinea will face a true test of stamina against World Cup quarter-finalists Senegal. While Senegal coach Abdoulaye Sarr admits his side was lucky to reach the final eight stage, his Guinea opposite number seems sure his team's status as underdogs will help them advance to the semi-finals. Guinea showed tremendous form throughout the group stage and capped it by trouncing holding champions Tunisia 3-0. The winners from Friday's two games will face each other in the semi-finals on Tuesday.
