Angola goalkeeper Hugo Marquez warns of Egypt’s set-piece threat ahead of AFCON qualifier

Angola goalkeeper Hugo Marquez has warned his teammates about Egypt’s threat from set pieces ahead of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying opener against the Pharaohs in Cairo.

The two sides are set to meet at the Cairo International Stadium on Friday in their opening Group B qualifier, with Angola aware of the danger posed by Egypt’s physical presence and quality from dead-ball situations.

Marquez, who plays for Petro Atletico, revealed that Angola have specifically studied Egypt’s set-piece strength and will be wary of conceding dangerous situations around their penalty area.

“The Egyptian national team’s defenders are strong on set pieces, and we are taking that into account and being wary of it,” Marquez told ON Sport.

The Angolan goalkeeper expects a difficult encounter against Egypt, particularly with the Pharaohs enjoying home advantage and the backing of their supporters.

“Our first match here in Egypt will be very difficult, it is a very tough match, but we are preparing for it well, especially since the Egyptian national team on its home ground and in front of its fans is a very strong opponent, and we will see what happens,” he said.

Marquez also stressed that Angola cannot afford to focus solely on Mohamed Salah, despite the Liverpool star being one of Egypt’s biggest attacking threats.

“We must take all the players into account. Mohamed Salah is not the only player who can make a difference. Egypt also has Emam Ashour, Omar Marmoush, and many other outstanding players,” he added.

With both teams beginning their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaigns, Angola will hope their preparation for Egypt’s set-piece threat can help them avoid conceding from one of the Pharaohs’ identified strengths at the Cairo International Stadium.