Egypt missed a chance to secure early qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, playing to a 0-0 draw with Burkina Faso on Tuesday. The result means the Pharaohs will have to wait for their final two qualifiers to confirm their place at the tournament, having needed a victory to seal their progress.
In a cautious match at the Stade du 4 Août, neither team managed to create a decisive breakthrough. Egypt’s only major threat came in the second half when a goal by substitute Osama Faisal was ruled offside. Despite fielding key players like Mohamed Salah and Trézéguet, Egypt failed to score for the first time in their Group A qualifying campaign.
The evening was further dampened for Egypt when forward Omar Marmoush left the field with an injury just nine minutes into the match. The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) confirmed that the Manchester City player suffered a bruised knee ligament. The injury raises concerns for his club ahead of their upcoming Premier League Manchester derby.
The draw keeps Egypt firmly at the top of Group A with 20 points, five points ahead of second-placed Burkina Faso. The Stallions’ point was enough to keep their slim hopes of a World Cup appearance alive. However, they face a challenging path, needing to win their remaining matches while hoping Egypt loses both of theirs.
Egypt’s coach Hossam Hassan, who captained the national team to an Africa Cup of Nations victory in the same stadium in 1998, expressed his frustration with the missed opportunity but maintained confidence in his team’s ability to qualify. The Pharaohs, seven-time Africa Cup of Nations champions, have a history of struggling to translate their continental dominance into World Cup success, having only appeared at the finals on three occasions.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.