Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying: Egypt beat Malawi 3-0

Egypt made a strong start to their Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying campaign with a 3-0 victory over Malawi, scoring all three goals before half-time.

Nasser Maher opened the scoring after Mohamed Hany delivered a low cross from the right side of the penalty area. Maher met the ball with a first-time finish that went into the right-hand corner.

Egypt doubled their advantage when Omar Marmoush capitalised on a serious mistake in Malawi’s passing. He intercepted the ball, ran through on goal and finished from inside the area into the right side of the net.

Mohamed Hany added a third with an excellent long-range strike. The Egypt defender struck the ball cleanly from outside the penalty area and found the top-right corner of George Chikoka’s goal.

Egypt were two goals ahead after 15 minutes and maintained the same advantage at the half-hour mark. Mahmoud Trezeguet narrowly missed the left post with a shot from the edge of the area, while Nasser Maher sent another effort over the crossbar.

Ahmed Sayed Zizo also went close, firing just over from the edge of the box before having another attempt deflected for a corner. Mohamed Salah saw a shot from inside the penalty area blocked by the Malawi defence, while a corner he delivered through a short pass and cross was safely claimed by Chikoka.

Malawi threatened through Richard Mbulu, whose effort from inside the area was brilliantly turned behind for a corner by Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir. Wais Dinho Mpinganjira supplied several deliveries from Malawi’s right, with Egypt’s defence clearing one cross away from danger and Shobeir gathering another from the left.

A further Malawi corner from Mpinganjira produced a header from Mbulu, but Shobeir again reacted well to push the ball behind. Another corner ended with an attacking foul in Egypt’s favour.

Egypt also won a free-kick in their defensive half after Ahmed Fattouh was fouled. Play was briefly stopped while Malawi’s Patrick Mwaungulu received treatment, before the match resumed.

After the interval, Malawi had a throw-in from the left side of their defensive half and Richard Mbulu sent a shot wide from outside the box. Egypt continued to threaten from set pieces, including a corner taken by Ahmed Sayed Zizo that Chikoka punched clear.

One minute of added time was played at the end of the match, with Egypt completing a 3-0 win.