Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the 2026 World Cup Qualification match.
The first round of World Cup qualifiers in Africa is drawing to a close, with the tournament set to take place next year in Canada, the USA, and Mexico. For Egypt, this match is crucial to solidify their position at the top of the group and ensure they don’t have to worry about their spot in North America.
Ethiopia
For Ethiopia, hosting the Egyptians is a major event. The local fans will get to see several star players, but that doesn’t mean a victory for the visitors is guaranteed. In the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Ethiopia managed to defeat seven-time champions Egypt (2:0) at home. This remains Egypt’s only loss in the group. At present, Ethiopia sit in fifth place with just three points from four matches.
Egypt
On the other hand, Egypt lead the group with 10 points from 12. The team only drew with Guinea-Bissau in the previous round (1:1). Their attack stands out, with Mohamed Salah, Omar Marmoush from the Premier League, Mostafa Mohamed from Ligue 1, and Mahmoud Hassan, once of Aston Villa, all part of a potent forward line.
Ethiopia vs Egypt Prediction
With such a powerful attack, Egypt should have no problem scoring, even in an away game. They will be fully focused on this match, as their qualification is still not secured. We expect them to win, but not score more than two goals: they’ll conserve energy ahead of their next game against Sierra Leone, and Ethiopia’s defence, which has only conceded four goals in four rounds, won’t make things easy.
