Djibouti vs Egypt
Egypt are closer to qualifying for the World Cup 2026 than they’ve ever been. They only need one point when they face Djibouti at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Morocco this Wednesday, and the World Cup 2026 odds suggest Hossam Hassan’s side will get the job done.
The Pharaohs are on top of the Group A table with 20 points, and they are assured of a Top 2 finish. However, they must clinch the top berth to qualify directly for the World Cup. The second placers of each group will have to go through the gauntlet in the second round before advancing to the inter-confederation play-offs.
On the other hand, Djibouti are already disqualified for next year’s showpiece event after a poor showing. The Shoremen of the Red Sea are dead last in the table with only one point after the first eight matchdays.
Without further ado, here is the SBOTOP match preview between these two sides.
Talking Points
Djibouti out to salvage some pride
Stephane Nado only took the head coaching job in June, and he faces the daunting task of rebuilding Djibouti after a woeful run in the World Cup 2026 qualifiers. The Shoremen of the Red Sea failed to secure maximum points across eight matches, with their only point coming for a 1-1 draw against Ethiopia last June 2024.
Djibouti only scored four goals and conceded a staggering 28 on the other end. Gabriel Dadzie and Samuel Akinbinu have two goals each, highlighting the team’s lack of match-winning quality, and the strike duo haven’t been in the squad since March.
With that said, avoiding another heavy defeat will be Djibouti’s objective against Egypt. During the qualifiers, the Shoremen of the Red Sea lost 6-0 to the Pharaohs in their first meeting. They also conceded at least four goals against Burkina Faso and Ethiopia.
Omar Mahamoud has been one of the team’s brightest spots, as he has only conceded twice in the previous round against Guinea-Bissau. It remains to be seen whether Nado trusts the 23-year-old goalkeeper on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, if Dadzie and Akinbinu remain out of the squad, Ahmed Youssouf Omar and Moussa Amoud Wais will handle the scoring load for Djibouti, and the two are eager to open their national team accounts.
Salah can regain his confidence with Egypt
Many eyes are going to be on Mohamed Salah this Wednesday, as he’s expected to shoulder the scoring load for the Pharaohs anew. The Liverpool star is a major reason why Egypt are likely to progress through the World Cup, as he has scored seven goals in the last eight matches, including a four-goal performance against Djibouti on the opening matchday.
Salah has struggled with the Reds so far this season, with only three goals in 10 games. He has scored just one in-play goal in the Premier League, which was in the opening matchday against Bournemouth. The lack of end product from the 33-year-old winger is a cause for concern, as the Reds are struggling with three losses on the bounce against Crystal Palace (2-1), Galatasaray (1-0) in the Champions League, and Chelsea (2-1) last weekend.
Salah is facing inferior competition, so he has a chance to surpass Gabon’s Dennis Bouanga, who has eight goals in the qualifiers. Only Trezeguet has scored two fewer goals than Salah, and the former Aston Villa forward aims to increase his tally of five goals against the Shoremen of the Red Sea.
In other World Cup 2026 news, the most notable absence for Egypt is Omar Marmoush. The Manchester City striker was initially named in Hossam Hassan’s initial squad, but he withdrew due to injury.
History
Despite being in the same confederation, Djibouti and Egypt have rarely faced off, as Wednesday only marks their fourth competitive meeting. As expected, Egypt are undefeated against Djibouti with three wins via a whopping aggregate tally of 14-0. All of their encounters have been in the World Cup qualifiers.
Djibouti have never qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations nor the World Cup. Because of their dismal performance this year, their hopes of qualifying for the showpiece tournaments will have to wait longer.
In stark contrast, Egypt are winningest team in the Africa Cup of Nations with seven gold medals, three silvers, and three bronzes. The Pharaohs also managed to qualify for the World Cup in 1934, 1990, and 2018, with their best run a Round of 16 finish in 1934. Egypt are also regulars in the Olympics, unlike Djibouti. They managed to finish fourth in the quadrennial tournament twice in 1928 and 1964.
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