Egypt – Ghana preview: putting ourselves to the test

So today, our national team will play with its full squad against the black stars of Ghana in the final and most challenging preview before Zambia’s match next march in the world cup qualifications.

We can consider this the most powerful and challenging friendly we will play in preparation for the real qualification matches; after playing against humble Benin and Kenya we now have a chance to test ourselves against a powerful team full of well known names.

However we needed to play this match outside Egypt or at least outside Cairo because we have made a habit of playing all our matches recently in Cairo stadium while our biggest challenge in the qualification will be away from home against Algeria in a foreign field and in front of foreign fans and most probably biased refereeing.

Ghana

They are a powerful team that comprises some world class talents playing in some of the biggest clubs in the world like soli Muntari who plays at inter Milan and has been doing very well lately.

We will also some familiar faces play against us like Junior Agogo (zamalek), William Mensah (Haras El Hdood) and George Awa (El Masry); however they will be missing their biggest star Michael Essien who has been since the beginning of the season due to injury.

Ghana style is a mix between talent and physical play accompanied by high fitness which will be a great experience to get out the most of our players.

Egypt

We will play with our full squad including Zidan and Barakat for the first time since long time ago and we will get to see how are we really doing after almost a year after our victory In Ghana and Shehata has passed more than 5 days with the player and made his decisions on who will be permanent from the new faces in his future plans.

We will only be missing Mido, Abu Trika and Ahmed Eid Abd El malek due to injury.

One thing that worth mentioning is that Shehata chose one left winger only leaving Sayed Moawad and at the same time chose 6 strikers!!

One problem Shehata will face will be the difficulty of choosing a starting line up except maybe in goal keeping and defense; however, in midfield he needs to choose 4 from Ahmed Hassan, Mohamed Shawky, Hosni Abd Raboh, Ahmed Fathi, Mohamed Barakat, Ahmed El Mohamady, Ahmed Samir Farag, Ahmed Khairi!!

Probable line up:

……………………………..…El Hadary…….…………………
Ahmed Fathi…….Wael Gomaa….Hani Said….Fathallah……Ahmed Samir Farag
……………..Hosni Abd Raboh (Shawky)……..Ahmed Hassan………..
………………………………….Mohamed Zidan………….
……………………..Amr Zaki…………………….Emad Meteb

The match:

It will be different than previous friendlies because the opponent will attack more and maybe score and we won’t have to attack all the time but we will need to pay attention in defense.

It will be a great battle in the midfield between Muntari and Ahmed Hassan and the one who can dominate will give his team an advantage; also their goal keeper will be their point of weakness so we need shots from outside.

Prediction: 2-1 for Egypt:, Zidan and Zaki