With their place in their home tournament already guaranteed, Egypt bring their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign to an end on Tuesday when they play host to Botswana in Cairo's 30 June Stadium on Tuesday.
Having lost each of the last four meetings between the two nations, the Zebras will head into the group finale looking to get one over the home side and secure qualification for the continental showpiece for the first time since 2012.
Match preview
© Imago
Egypt's 100% record in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign came to an end on Friday when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Cape Verde at the Estadio Nacional de Cabo Verde.
Al Ahly striker Taher Mohamed finished off a well-worked team goal one minute after the half-hour mark to give the Pharaohs a first-half lead but experienced forward Ryan Mendes converted his 63rd-minute penalty to hand Cape Verde a crucial point in their qualifying race.
Before that, Egypt had already secured their spot in the continental showpiece for a fifth straight edition as they won each of their opening four games, seeing off Cape Verde and Botswana in September before claiming successive wins over Mauritania in October's double-header.
With Friday's result, Hossam Hassan's men have now gone seven straight games without defeat across all competitions, claiming two draws and five wins, including a 2-1 victory over Burkina Faso in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where they lead the way in Group A with 10 points from four matches.
Egypt will back themselves to bounce back on Tuesday as they return home, where they are on a run of 12 back-to-back competitive victories, stretching back to a 1-1 draw against Kenya in the AFCON qualifiers back in November 2019.
Botswana, on the other hand, failed to seal their spot in Morocco next year as they played out a somewhat disappointing 1-1 draw with Mauritania when the two nations squared off at the Obert Itani Chilume Stadium.
AEK Athens man Aboubakary Koita opened the scoring in the seventh minute to put Mauritania in front but the hosts hit back minutes later through Gilbert Baruti as they settled for a share of the spoils in Francistown.
Before that, Morena Ramoreboli's men kicked off the campaign with back-to-back defeats against Mauritania and Egypt back in September before bouncing back with back-to-back victories over Cape Verde in October's double-header.
Botswana, who have failed to feature in AFCON since their group-stage exit in 2012, have picked up seven points from a possible 15 to sit second in Group C, five points off leaders Egypt and just three above third-placed Cape Verde.
While the Zebras need just a draw at the 30 June Stadium to keep their feet in their own hands and end their 12-year absence from the continental showpiece, they have lost each of their last four games against Egypt, conceding nine goals and failing to find the back of the net since a 1-1 draw in June 2013.
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Team News
© Imago
Egypt will have to cope without the services of Zamalek midfielder Mohamed Shehata, who was forced off injured in the sixth minute against Cape Verde on Friday.
In his absence, club teammate Nabil Donga should come into the fray, teaming up with Ahmed Nabil Koka and 23-year-old Mahmoud Saber in the centre of the park.
Taher Mohamed turned in an eye-crashing display on the right side of Egypt's attack against Cape Verde and the Al Ahly forward should form the front three with Osama Faisal and Ibrahim Adel once again.
As for Botswana, we expect Ramoreboli to name an unchanged XI Tuesday, meaning that we should see a back four of Alford Velaphi, Mosha Gaolaolwe, Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, Mothusi Johnson shielding Goitseone Phoko in goal.
Aso Chlef man Gape Mohutsiwa should team up with Godiraone Modingwane and Gilbert Baruti in midfield while we expect Thabang Sesinyi, Kabelo Seakanyeng and 28-year-old Tumisang Orebonye to lead the attack.
Egypt possible starting lineup:
El-Shenawy; Hamdi, Rabia, Fath, Eid; Donga, Saber, Koka; Mohamed, Faisal, Adel
Botswana possible starting lineup:
Phoko; Velaphi, Gaolaolwe, Ditlhokwe, Johnson; Mohutsiwa, Modingwane, Baruti; Sesinyi, Seakanyeng, Orebonye
We say: Egypt 1-1 Botswana
While Egypt can rest on their laurels, having already secured qualification, Botswana need a point at the 30 June Stadium to end their 12-year AFCON absence. The Pharaohs head into the game as firm favourites on paper but we predict that Ramoreboli's men will do just enough to force a share of the spoils and secure their place in Morocco next year.
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