Recap
Egypt is going head-to-head with Tunisia in a friendly international match in Cairo. To make the best choice, we need to assess three important factors: First, the relative strength of each team. Second, the winning incentive and the match environment. Finally, the latest performances of each team.
According to the live FIFA ranking, Egypt and Tunisia are currently ranked 32nd and 35th in the world and 4th and 5th in Africa, respectively. All the “Stars” from both teams are called up for the game. Mohamed Salah, Liverpool’s player and the two-time African footballer of the year, is called to play for the Egyptian team. On the other hand, Youssef El Msakni and the rising Tunisian talent, Hannibal Mejbri, are also called up for this match.
Both teams have secured their places in the Africa Cup of Nations, which means that a win isn’t a necessity. The game is part of the teams’ preparations for the African Cup. However, the North African teams are always eager to win their matches against each other, especially with a high attendance expected. Both managers have stated that they are playing for the win, which is evident in their squad selections. Nonetheless, the Egyptian players have an advantage in this match as they are playing in Cairo with strong support from the home crowd. Regarding the latest performances, Egypt has had an outstanding run under the new Portuguese coach, Rui Vitoria, with 8 consecutive wins. The team finished at the top of its group in the African Qualifications with 15 points (a 5-point gap with the 2nd seed, Guinea) and is fully prepared for this game. On the other side, Tunisia also finished first in its group with an equal number of points as Equatorial Guinea. In the last 3 games, Tunisia defeated Botswana, drew with Algeria, and lost to Equatorial Guinea.
The odds are very high for both teams, but I would say that the Egyptian team will probably secure a win over Tunisia, given their potential, incentive, and outstanding performance in their last few matches.