2024 TotalEnergies CAF Futsal AFCON: The Pharaohs are 'positive' ahead of Angola match
Rabat, Morocco (PANA) - The assistant coach of Egypt, Sameh Saleh Husein, says the atmosphere in the Pharaohs camp is positive ahead of the 2024 TotalEnergies CAF Futsal AFCON semi-final match against Angola on Friday.
The three-time champions booked their place in the last four of the competition by winning all their group-stage matches to finish as Group B winners.
Egypt will battle against one of the strongest teams in the tournament in the Sable Antelopes of Angola, who finished second in Group A behind hosts Morocco.
"The atmosphere is very positive, we're ready for the match after topping our group," said Saleh.
"We have prepared every detail of the match against Angola, one of the strongest teams who had a good performance in the group stages but we're prepared with our experience and I hope there will be focus and calm if they respect these principles we will be in the final."
The Pharaohs struggled to beat Mauritania in their last group match at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Hall on Tuesday but Saleh stressed that the conditions are different.
"Mauritania have a different atmosphere and the scenario of the match wasn't what we predicted," he added.
"In the beginning of the match, we had a lot of opportunities and we ended up conceding two goals but the confidence and the experience of our players helped us to comeback and secure the victory.
"We studied a lot about Angola as we watched their matches in the group stages. We know their strengths and weaknesses and we have been working since Thursday for this match ....”
The tournament's most successful team have set their sights on a place in Sunday's final which will also book their ticket to the FIFA Futsal World Cup later this year in Uzbekistan.
"We are the most successful team in the tournament, winning it three times and we have the enthusiasm and we're ready to win it for the fourth time and the first step is to win the semi-final," said Abdelrahman Moawad.
Moawad is one of the star performers of the Egyptian team that has scored 21 goals in three matches of the 7th edition of the quadrennial tournament.
"We prepared very well for moments like this and the next match will be different against Angola who are one of the strongest teams in the continent," said the 30-year-old Moawad.
-0- PANA VAO/MA 19April2024
