Egypt vs Mozambique Prediction: The Pharaohs to extend their record with another win

Egypt will commence their quest for an eighth Africa Cup of Nations title as they go up against Mozambique at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium on Sunday. The Pharaohs, having been runners-up in AFCONs 2017 and 2021, are determined to clinch the title this time and put an end to their championship drought. On the other hand, Os Mambas are making their return to the continental showpiece for the first time since 2010.

Despite Rui Vitoria's cautious approach heading into AFCON 2023, the Pharaohs are motivated by the defeats suffered in the decisive fixtures of the 2017 and 2021 tournaments. Mohamed Salah, the team's talisman, played a part in both losses against Cameroon and Senegal, notably in the penalty shootout disappointment to the Lions of Teranga, which saw Egypt fall short in their pursuit of another African title. Emphasizing the significance of victory in the Ivory Coast, Salah, the Liverpool star, is expected to play a crucial role in determining how the seven-time winners perform in the competition.

During the qualifying rounds, Vitoria's men demonstrated their strength as one of the top sides, losing only one of their six fixtures (a 2-0 defeat against Ethiopia) and conceding just three times while maintaining four clean sheets. Throughout 2023, Egypt suffered only one loss — a 3-1 friendly defeat to Tunisia. They commenced 2024 on a positive note with a 2-0 victory over Tanzania on January 7 in a preparatory game for the finals. A similar outcome against a team ranked 78 places below them in the FIFA rankings would be just what the doctor ordered for the Pharaohs.

Mozambique, despite having participated in four AFCONs (1986, 1996, 1998, and 2010), lacks significant experience at this level. The Mambas secured a comfortable second-place finish in the qualifying rounds, trailing four points behind the defending African champions, Senegal. This achievement marks their return to the Cup of Nations after a 14-year absence since the finals in Angola.

Chiquinho Conde, the coach, deserves acknowledgement for orchestrating Mozambique's journey to this stage, particularly considering their failure to qualify for six consecutive tournaments. While the outcome of their efforts in a group alongside Ghana and Cape Verde remains uncertain, Mozambique's historical record of not winning a game at AFCON tempers optimism before the tournament kicks off. The Mambas have suffered defeats in 10 out of their 12 previous games at AFCON, highlighting the challenging task ahead for Chiquinho and his team.

The two teams have faced each other five times in competitive games, and the Pharaohs hold a flawless record in these encounters, scoring a total of nine goals. Their most recent meeting took place in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where the 2021 AFCON runners-up secured a convincing 3-0 win on aggregate across two matches.

Notably, Mozambique has encountered the seven-time champions in three out of their four appearances at the AFCON. In each of these instances, they suffered 2-0 defeats in the group-stage meetings of the 1986, 1998, and 2010 editions of the tournament.

Egypt possible starting lineup:

El-Shenawy; Kamal, Hegazy, Abdelmonem, Fatouh; Ashour, Elneny, Attia; Salah, Mohamed, Trezeguet

Mozambique possible starting lineup:

Ernan; Macandza, Mexer, Malembana, Langa; Guima, Shaquille; Lourenco, Domingues, Clesio; King

The Pharaohs have ended up as runners-up in two of the last three editions of AFCON, seeking redemption after losing to Senegal in a penalty shootout in the previous tournament. With 12 wins in their last 14 games, including friendlies, they emerge as strong favorites. Their defense has been solid, securing clean sheets in their last three matches, and head coach Rui Vitória anticipates a robust defensive display from the team. Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, who provided an assist in the friendly win over Tanzania, is poised to be a key player in this fixture.

Os Mambas have displayed decent form leading up to their campaign opener, avoiding defeats in their two pre-tournament friendlies. However, they have yet to score against the 2021 runners-up. Notably, Mozambique has conceded at least two goals in their last seven AFCON games while scoring three times in that period.

Given Egypt's impressive AFCON record and a flawless record of five wins against Mozambique, they are expected to secure a comfortable victory, with favorable odds for maintaining a clean sheet.