Egypt’s push for a return to the FIFA World Cup has taken an unexpected twist after CAF approved a venue change that disrupts the Pharaohs’ preparations for upcoming qualifiers.
The Confederation of African Football has confirmed Burkina Faso will now host Egypt at the August 4 Stadium in Ouagadougou instead of the previously agreed Morocco. The decision affects the eighth-round fixture of the African qualifiers, creating fresh logistical and technical challenges for Hossam Hassan’s squad.
Egypt, currently leading Group A with 16 points, five ahead of Burkina Faso, was preparing for matches against Ethiopia and Burkina Faso. With travel distances, weather conditions, and preparation logistics all altered, the Pharaohs’ technical staff are now recalibrating their plans.
Ibrahim Hassan, Egypt’s team director, has tasked the administrative unit with gathering information about the new venue and planning the team’s journey.
“This decision has thrown our plans into disarray, especially since playing in Morocco is more suitable given the similarities in climate with Egypt, and the travel time is not as long as traveling to Burkina Faso,” a source in the national team told Kooora.
The team is now set to monitor domestic competition closely to finalize the September camp, hoping to stay on course for their first World Cup appearance since 2018.
