The Egypt national under-17 football team have concluded preparations for their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations group-stage encounter against Tunisia national under-17 football team, with the side aiming to secure its first victory of the tournament.
The match is scheduled to take place on Saturday at 4pm as part of the second round of fixtures in the opening stage of the continental competition being hosted in Morocco.
Led by coach Hussein Abdel Latif, the Egyptian side completed its final training session ahead of what is expected to be a significant match in the battle for qualification from the group.
Before the team’s latest training session, Walid Darwish, a member of the board of directors of the Egyptian Football Association and head of the delegation accompanying the squad, met with players and coaching staff in an effort to motivate the team before the important encounter.
According to the report, the meeting focused on encouraging the players and reinforcing confidence ahead of a fixture that could prove decisive in Egypt’s campaign.
The national side began the tournament with a goalless draw against Ethiopia national under-17 football team in their opening Group A match, a result that left the team seeking improvement heading into the second round of games.
Coach Hussein Abdel Latif reportedly expressed confidence in his squad’s ability to respond positively and recover from the disappointment of dropping points in the opening fixture.
The technical director believes his players are capable of producing a stronger performance against Tunisia as Egypt attempt to revive their hopes of progressing deeper into the competition.
The opening round of matches in the group also saw hosts Morocco national under-17 football team draw 1-1 with Tunisia, leaving all four teams with opportunities to strengthen their positions in the standings ahead of the second round.
That outcome means Saturday’s fixture carries added importance, with Egypt eager to gain momentum before the decisive final stages of the group campaign.
The tournament in Morocco is regarded as a major platform for emerging African talent, with several nations using the competition to showcase future stars and strengthen youth development programmes.
For Egypt’s under-17 side, the focus is now firmly on translating preparation into performance after a disciplined but frustrating opening match against Ethiopia.
The coaching staff are expected to rely on improved attacking efficiency and stronger finishing in order to secure the positive result they believe the team is capable of achieving.
Saturday’s contest against Tunisia is therefore likely to play a crucial role in shaping Egypt’s path through the tournament, with both teams seeking a potentially vital victory in the race for qualification to the knockout stages.
The Egyptian camp will also hope that the support shown by officials and technical staff ahead of the game can provide the confidence needed for the players to deliver under pressure in one of the team’s most important matches of the competition so far.
