Egypt thrash South Sudan 5-0 for first 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying win

Egypt claimed their first victory in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with a 5-0 victory over South Sudan in the second round of Group B fixtures.

Mostafa Abd El Raouf “Zico”, Omar Marmoush, Ibrahim Adel and Hamza Abdelkarim were the scorers for the Pharaohs, with Marmoush finding the net twice.

The result is Egypt’s biggest win since Hossam Hassan became manager. Their previous largest victories under him were a 4-0 friendly win against Saudi Arabia and a 4-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Djibouti.

Zico has now scored five international goals in only nine appearances and is the fourth-highest scorer for Egypt since Hassan took charge.

Marmoush ended a 139-day wait for a goal at club and international level by scoring twice against South Sudan. Ibrahim Adel also moved ahead of Ahmed Sayed Zizo and Rami Rabia to become the fifth-highest scorer for Egypt under Hassan, while Barcelona forward Hamza Abdelkarim scored his first goal for the national team.

Egypt now have four points at the top of Group B, having drawn with Angola in their opening match. Malawi have three points, while Angola have one, with the two teams due to meet on 6 October. South Sudan are bottom without a point after defeats by Malawi and Egypt.

Egypt control the match

Hossam Hassan selected Haitham Hassan and Marmoush in attack in the absence of Mohamed Salah. Marwan Attia returned to the starting line-up after missing Friday’s match against Angola through suspension, replacing Mahmoud Saber.

Marmoush came in for Salah, who was unavailable because the match was being played on a tartan pitch.

Egypt began strongly, with Imam Ashour forcing an early save after cutting in from the left side of the penalty area. Zico then saw a left-footed effort from inside the box stopped by the South Sudan goalkeeper in the fifth minute, before Rabia headed Haitham Hassan’s cross wide two minutes later.

Zico had another attempt deflected into the goalkeeper’s hands in the 17th minute. South Sudan replied through Benjamin Laku, who headed wide, and Jackson Dwanga, whose effort from outside the area went over the crossbar.

Egypt took the lead in the 36th minute. Ahmed Fattouh advanced down the left and sent a low cross into the area, where Pyramids player Zico finished powerfully.

Marwan Attia was booked in the 38th minute for a challenge on Chan Peter. Two minutes later, Ashour narrowly missed with a right-footed shot, while Zico’s header was saved and turned behind for a corner in the 41st minute.

Marmoush doubled Egypt’s advantage four minutes after the interval, running onto Mohand Lasheen’s pass from inside South Sudan’s half before slotting a low finish into the left corner.

Fattouh was replaced by Karim Hafez after reporting an injury, while Ibrahim Adel came on for Haitham Hassan. Adel added the third in the 75th minute with a powerful strike.

Marmoush then shot over before scoring again after rounding the goalkeeper and finishing into an empty net. Mostafa Shobeir also made an important intervention to clear a dangerous cross inside Egypt’s penalty area.