The match, held on October 8, 2025, saw Egypt—currently unbeaten and leading Group A—secure another crucial win thanks to a first-half header by Ibrahim Adel following a well-worked team move and cross from Mohamed Costa. The Pharaohs dominated possession and tempo from the outset, displaying their technical superiority against a resilient but limited Djibouti side.
With this victory, Egypt strengthened their position at the top of Group A, now boasting 23 points after nine matches. Their campaign remains nearly flawless, with seven wins and two draws, keeping them five points clear of second-placed Burkina Faso. Star forward Mohamed Salah continued to serve as the team’s focal point, although he did not score in this encounter. In his absence from the scoresheet, players like Ibrahim Adel and Trezeguet stepped up in attack.
Djibouti, managed by Stéphane Nado and captained by Idriss Houmed Bilha, went into the match with no hopes of qualification and only one point from eight games. The team struggled to threaten Egypt’s goal, lacking key attackers Gabriel Dadzie and Samuel Akinbinu, both sidelined since March. Goalkeeper Omar Mahamoud, however, delivered a solid performance, conceding just once despite Egypt’s dominance.
The match was played at a neutral venue in Casablanca, as Djibouti’s home stadiums do not meet CAF standards for international fixtures. The Larbi Zaouli Stadium, recently renovated, provided a fitting stage for this important qualifier.
Historically, Egypt has dominated this fixture, winning all recent encounters by significant margins, including 6-0 and 4-0 victories. This result maintains that trend and brings Rui Vitória’s side within touching distance of World Cup qualification. For Djibouti, the focus now turns to building experience for future competitions.
The Pharaohs will look to seal their World Cup spot in the next round, while Djibouti aims to end their campaign with a respectable showing. For more details, live statistics, and match updates, visit BBC Sport or follow the live coverage on VAVEL.