On November 13, 1959, Egypt faced Ghana for the first time in a historic encounter that marked the qualifiers for the Rome 1960 Olympic Games.
Tonight, Thursday, the Egyptian national team faces Ghana again in the second round of the group stage in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The 1959 confrontation between Egypt and Ghana took place in Cairo, with Egypt securing a victory with a scoreline of 2-1.
Rafat Attia, seemingly enamored with rewriting the goal-scoring narrative, not only secured the first goals in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations but also opened the scoring in the matches between Egypt and Ghana.
Rafat Attia, the Zamalek star, managed to score both of his goals against Ghana in the 47th and 60th minutes of the match.
Egypt’s Lineup Against Ghana in their First Encounter:
– Goalkeeper: Khorsheed (In the absence of the renowned Adel Hekel, who missed the return match in Ghana).
– Defensive Line: Mohamed Rafaai, Mahmoud Hamed, Tarek Salim, Rafat El-Fanagily, and Abdo Nasehi.
– Midfield Trio: Abdo Salim, Essam Bahgat, and Hamdi Abdel Fattah.
– Striking Duo: Rafat Attia and Mimi El Sherbini.
This historic clash laid the foundation for the encounters between Egypt and Ghana, and it was Mimi El Sherbini who, under the guidance of Rafat Attia, contributed to shaping the early chapters of this football rivalry.
As Egypt faces Ghana again, the echoes of that first encounter reverberate through time, reminding fans of the rich history shared by these two African football powerhouses.
