Egypt’s quest for a spot in the upcoming World Cup has been momentarily halted following a 0-0 draw against Burkina Faso in a lackluster Group A match held in Ouagadougou. The draw leaves Egypt at the top of the group with 20 points, maintaining a five-point lead over Burkina Faso. With only the group winners qualifying automatically for the World Cup, the seven-time African champions need just two points from their remaining two matches to secure their place.
The Egyptian team, managed by Hossam Hassan, will face Djibouti and Guinea-Bissau in their final qualifying fixtures scheduled for October 2023. The draw against Burkina Faso was particularly challenging as Egypt suffered an early setback when Omar Marmoush, a forward from Manchester City, was forced off the pitch due to injury in the ninth minute.
Despite the setback, Egypt’s best opportunity came in the 67th minute. Mohamed Salah set up substitute Osama Faisal, but Faisal’s effort was ruled offside. Prior to that, Trezeguet had the first chance of the match, but his shot was saved by Burkina Faso goalkeeper Herve Koffi. The home side managed to create few threats, with Bertrand Traore, a forward from Sunderland, leading their attempts.
As the match drew to a close, Egypt sought a late winner, but Mostafa Mohamed squandered two significant chances, leaving the scoreline unchanged. Despite the missed opportunities, Coach Hassan expressed satisfaction with the draw, noting that it brings his team one step closer to qualifying for the 48-team tournament set to take place in North America next year.
Egypt now looks ahead with optimism, knowing that a successful qualification would mark their fourth appearance at the World Cup. With their next matches on the horizon, the team aims to secure the necessary points and continue their pursuit of international glory.
