CAN 2015 QUALIFIERS – EGYPT vs SENEGAL: A NATION HOLDS ITS BREATH AHEAD OF DECISIVE CLASH IN CAIRO
This Saturday at 5 p.m. GMT, all eyes in Senegal will be fixed on the Cairo International Stadium, where the Lions of Teranga face the Pharaohs of Egypt in a match that could define their destiny in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
A Match That Has Frozen the Nation
With just hours to kickoff, the tension across Senegal’s 13 million football-obsessed citizens is palpable. Conversations, media coverage, and public sentiment have been dominated by one burning question: Can the Lions overcome the Pharaohs on Egyptian soil for the first time since 1986?
The stakes couldn’t be higher — not only for the players but for coach Alain Giresse, who is nearing his two-year mark in charge and faces the biggest test of his tenure.
A Group That Has Turned on Its Head
After leading Group G through much of the qualification campaign, Senegal were recently overtaken by Tunisia, while Egypt, who made a poor start with two opening defeats, have surged back to life — trailing the Lions by just one point heading into matchday five.
This has turned today’s match into a must-win or at least must-draw scenario for Senegal. Failure to collect points would mean handing qualification control to Egypt, a scenario Giresse’s men are desperate to avoid.
Historic Weight and Fear of Repetition
The weight of history hangs heavily:
Senegal’s last victory in Egypt dates back to the opening match of CAN 1986 — a 1-0 win thanks to legends like Jules Bocandé, Roger Mendy, and Oumar Guèye Séne.
Since then, the Pharaohs have proven nearly invincible at home.
This long winless streak, combined with Egypt’s recent resurgence and the pressure of a demanding fan base, has created a tense atmosphere marked by skepticism and fear, despite the Lions’ undeniable quality.
“The Most Important Match Under Giresse”
For many, this encounter is more than a qualifier — it’s a litmus test of Senegal’s maturity, resilience, and tactical discipline. Some say it is Giresse’s defining moment, and whether he will be remembered as the coach who brought the Lions back to continental prominence — or not.
The match against Egypt is not just a game; it is a nation’s hope compressed into 90 minutes of high-stakes football.
Kick-off: 5:00 p.m. GMT
Venue: Cairo International Stadium
Outcome: Qualification hopes hang in the balance
Will history repeat itself, or will the Lions finally roar again in Cairo? The entire nation waits, breathless.
