Egypt’s AFCON Hopes Dashed After 3-1 Defeat to Tunisia
Tunis, Tunisia – 19 November 2014
Egypt’s hopes of qualifying for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) were shattered on Tuesday night as they suffered a 3-1 defeat to Tunisia, leaving them out of the tournament for the third consecutive edition. The Pharaohs had been in control of their destiny, knowing that a two-goal victory would guarantee their place in the finals. However, Tunisia, unbeaten throughout the qualifiers, had other plans.
The match started positively for Egypt, with Mohamed Salah giving them the lead just before the 15-minute mark. The early goal put the visitors in a strong position, and they seemed set to capitalize on their advantage. But Tunisia responded after the break, leveling the score through Youssef Msakni’s brilliant strike in the 53rd minute.
The setback was a blow to the Egyptians, who struggled to regain momentum. Their situation worsened in the 81st minute when Wahbi Khazri’s curling free-kick found the back of the net, putting Tunisia 2-1 up. A final blow came moments later, as Tunisia added a third goal in injury time to seal the victory and confirm Egypt’s elimination from the 2015 AFCON.
Despite having the advantage in terms of knowing the results of their rivals, Egypt failed to take advantage of the situation. This defeat marks the end of a disappointing qualification campaign for the seven-time AFCON champions, who will now miss out on the tournament for the third consecutive time.
Meanwhile, in the group, Senegal secured a 3-0 win over Botswana, further cementing their place at the top of the table. Tunisia’s win propelled them to the top, leaving Egypt with no chance of making it to Equatorial Guinea in January 2015.
The result also benefits DR Congo, who are now in third place in the group, with hopes of qualifying as one of the best third-placed teams still alive.
Egypt’s absence from the 2015 AFCON is a bitter disappointment for the country’s footballing tradition, as they now face a long wait to reclaim their spot among Africa’s elite teams.
