Egypt's Mohamed Zidan partners Amr Zaki upfront as Ahmed Fathi is deployed as a defender along with Abdul-Zaher Al-Saqqa and Hani Saied against Algeria. Midfielder Fathi is unusually fielded at the back to fill the void left by the automatic suspension of Wael Gomaa. Egypt coach Hassan Shehata also preferred to play veteran defender Al-Saqqa instead of Ahmed Saied 'Ouka'. Ahmed Al-Muhammdi is deployed as a right winger, while Sayed Moawad took the same role on the other flank as expected. Mohamed Hommos was given a starting berth in the heart of midfield, while Hosni Abd-Rabou, who hasn't completely overcome an ankle injury, is among the substitutes. Playmaker Mohamed Abou-Treika will feed the frontline. On the other hand, Algeria's Rafik Saifi is deployed as a lone striker in front of Karim Ziani and Mourad Meghni. Egypt's Starting Eleven: Goalkeeper: Essam Al-Hadari Defenders: Ahmed Al-Muhammadi – Hani Saied – Abdul-Zaher Al-Saqqa – Ahmed Fathi – Sayed Moawad. Midfielders: Ahmed Hassan – Mohamed Hommos – Mohamed Abou-Treika. Strikers: Mohmed Zidan – Amr Zaki. Algeria's Starting Eleven: Goalkeeper: Lounes Gaouaoui. Defenders: Madjid Bougherra – Rafik Halliche – Antar Yahia Midfielders: Karim Matmour – Khaled Lemmouchia – Yazid Mansouri – Nadir Belhadj – Karim Ziani – Mourad Meghni. Strikers: Rafik Saifi.
