Egypt on Wednesday night handed Zambia a mountain to climb following a 2-0 home win at the 20 June Stadium in Cairo in a 2023 U23 AFCON final round first leg match.
Both goals came in the last 18 minutes of the game in which Egypt had a huge technical edge over Osward Mutapa’s side.
Zambia had to thank Trident FC goalkeeper Francis Mwansa for some great work in both halves before he was finally breached on the last stretch.
Osama Faisal fired a 31st minute effort inches wide in Egypt’s first real threat in a second half they had camped in Zambia’s zone.
Mwansa then denied Mohamed Shehata in the 41st minute as Egypt ended the first half stronger.
Mwansa was again at his best in the 54th minute when he saved Adel Ibrahim’s one-on-one shot.
But the pressure mounted as the deadlock was broken in the 7nd minute when Ahmed Koka’s cross found Adel Ibrahim who fired in a volley from the edge of the area.
Miguel Chaiwa had probably Zambia’s best chance in the 76th minute but his shot from inside the box went inches wide.
It was game set and match in the 87th minute when two Egyptian second half substitutes combined to seal the vital home win.
Imad Mihoub left cross was met by Abdel Rahman Atef who rose higher above the Zambian defensive line to head-in the ball.
The two sides meet this Sunday at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola to decide who gets the ticket to the Morocco finals where Africa’s three Olympic tickets will be decided.
