Egypt to face DR Congo instead of Togo

Hatem Maher
2 Min Read

CAIRO: Egypt will face DR Congo on August 11 after calling off a friendly against Togo, the team’s assistant coach Hamada Sedki said on Saturday.

The Pharaohs were scheduled to face Togo, who stirred controversy after announcing that they will play Saudi Arabia in the same day.

According to widespread reports, Togo were planning to field two teams against Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Egypt eventually decided to cancel their friendly game against Togo and arranged another one with DR Congo.

"We reached a final agreement with DR Congo to play a friendly on August 11," Sedki told FilGoal.com.

"We have already called up (Standard Liege striker) Emad Meteb and (Sunderland wing-back) Ahmed Al-Muhammadi for that match.

"The local-based players will be named following the first week of the Egyptian Premier League."

Egypt have played one friendly game since winning an unprecedented third consecutive African Cup of Nations title in Angola last January.

They slumped to a 3-1 defeat by England at Wembley Stadium last March.

They were drawn in Group 7 of the 2012 Nations Cup qualifiers along with South Africa, Sierra Leone and Niger.

The seven-time African champions will play their first two home qualifiers at least 100 kilometers away from Cairo after being sanctioned by world governing body FIFA.

The punishment came after Algeria’s team bus was stoned ahead of a fiery World Cup qualifier in November last year.

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