Preview: Angola vs. Egypt - prediction, team news, lineups

Egypt will be looking to cement their spot at the top of Group F when they continue their World Cup 2022 qualification campaign against Angola on Friday.

The visitors are currently top of the section, boasting 10 points from their opening four matches, while Angola sit at the foot of the table, having picked up just three points from their four games in the group.

Match preview

Angola famously competed at the 2006 World Cup, picking up two points from their three group matches against Portugal, Mexico and Iran to finish third in the section, which represented a successful tournament.

The African nation will not be present at the 2022 edition of the competition, though, as they have picked up just three points from four Group F matches to sit at the bottom of the section.

Angola lost 1-0 to Egypt and Libya in back-to-back matches in September before recording a 3-1 victory over Gabon on October 8; they could not build on the result, though, suffering a 2-0 defeat to Gabon in their fourth group game three days later.

Pedro Goncalves's side will be playing for pride in their final two group games against Egypt and Libya this month, although they could still have a huge say in which side tops this particular section.

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Egypt, as mentioned, are currently top of Group F, boasting 10 points from their four matches, having recorded three victories and one draw thus far.

The Pharaohs are not yet secure of first position in the group, which brings a spot in the third round of qualifying, but a win over Angola would cement their spot at the summit regardless of how second-placed Libya perform against Gabon on the same day.

Egypt opened their qualification campaign with a 1-0 victory over Angola at the start of September before playing out a 1-1 draw with Gabon four days later.

Carlos Queiroz's side have triumphed in their last two games, though, recording a 1-0 victory over Libya on October 8 before running out 3-0 winners in the reverse match three days later.

Egypt, who will finish their group-stage campaign at home to Gabon on November 16, qualified for the 2018 World Cup but struggled to make an impression, losing all three of their fixtures to exit the tournament.

Team News

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There are not expected to be many surprises in the Angola XI for this match, with the team likely to be similar to the one that took to the field for the clash with Gabon last month.

Indeed, 19-year-old Zini is likely to be joined in the final third by Mario Balburdia, with Show, Herenilson, Carlinhos and Lepua expected to be the midfield four.

There is not a lot of experience in the Angolan squad in the defensive positions, but Jonathan Buatu has made 22 appearances for his country and should again be in the side at right-back.

As for Egypt, all eyes will once again be on Mohamed Salah, who has enjoyed a brilliant campaign with Liverpool to date, and the 29-year-old will be bidding to add to his 45 international goals.

Arsenal's Mohamed Elneny will also be in the away side's starting side on Friday, while Galatasaray's Mostafa Mohamed is also likely to feature in the final third of the field.

Ahmed Hegazi spent time in English football with West Bromwich Albion before moving to Saudi Arabia, and the 30-year-old will line up in the middle of the defence for Queiroz's side.

Angola possible starting lineup:
Marques; Buatu, Afonso, Carneiro, Gaspar; Lepua, Carlinhos, Herenilson, Show; Balburdia, Zini

Egypt possible starting lineup:
El Shenawy; Tawfik, Fathy, Hegazi, Fatouh; Elneny, El Said, El Solia; Salah, Mostafa, Marmoush

We say: Angola 0-2 Egypt

Angola are more than capable of making this an uncomfortable fixture for Egypt, who have not exactly been full of goals in the section. That said, there is a clear difference in quality between the two sides, and we are expecting the visitors to secure all three points to guarantee top spot in Group F.

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