The Confederation of African Football (CAF) rejected the request of the Egyptian Football Federation (EFA) to postpone the match against Guinea, counting for the fifth day of the CAN 2023 qualifiers.
After the qualification of Al Ahly in the final of the African Champions League, to the detriment of Espérance de Tunis (0-3, 1-0) on May 19, the EFA had seized CAF regarding the postponement of the Guinea confrontation -Egypt, scheduled for June 14. Indeed, the federation feared the accumulation of fatigue of its internationals present in Al Ahly, who should return from a long trip to the antipodes of the continent, in South Africa, after a possible return match against Mamelodi Sundowns on June 11. This, in the event that the Brasilian Bafanas eliminated Wydad in the LdC semi-finals. Request refused by the pan-African body, reveals the newspaper Al Ahram.
Why did CAF refuse Egypt’s request?
Indeed, Al Ahly, which has nearly eight Egyptian internationals in its ranks including Abdelmoneim, Kahraba, El-Shenawy, Suleya and El-Shahat, is definitely free from a grueling journey to Pretoria, South Africa, after qualifying. Wydad in the final on May 20 (0-0, 2-2 against Mamelodi). The Red Devils will therefore travel to Morocco, in particular to the stronghold of Wydad, in Casablanca, located about five hours flight from Cairo, for the return leg of the LdC final on June 11. The internationals will only have to rally the gathering of the Pharaohs in Marrakech, located an hour’s flight south of Casablanca, to challenge Guinea, which does not have stadiums to CAF standards, as part of the playoffs for the CAN 2023 and who will therefore receive his opponent in Morocco.
🚨 As part of the CAN qualifiers, Egypt will face Guinea on June 14th at the Grand Stade de Marrakech in Morocco! 🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/RNYwMQ574x
— Eleven Masr (@elevenmasr) May 22, 2023
As a reminder, Egypt and Guinea are respectively first and second in Group D, tied with nine points each on the clock. Their qualification is virtually assured as Malawi and Ethiopia bring up the rear with three points.
