Host nation Egypt will be desperate to bounce back when they face Zambia in a must-win encounter at the Suez Canal Stadium.
After a crushing 4-1 defeat to Sierra Leone, the Young Pharaohs face growing scrutiny and the risk of early elimination, despite having three points from their opening 1-0 win over South Africa.
The pressure is mounting, not only because of their poor performance, but also due to Zambia’s resilience. The Young Chipolopolo held Sierra Leone to a goalless draw in their opener and now see Egypt’s vulnerability as a chance to strike and climb into contention.
With South Africa resting on this matchday but still on three points, all eyes will be on how Egypt responds under the weight of expectation. The format of the tournament, where the top two in each group and the two best third-placed teams advance, means there’s still hope for all sides, but Egypt must act fast.
A win would restore confidence. A loss could spark crisis. Egypt-Zambia promises to be an entertaining showdown.
