Egypt brush aside Togo in Lome

by Staff Reporter

Tuesday Nov 17, 2020. 20:02

Egypt defeated Togo 3-1 in the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier at the Stade de Kegue in Lome on Tuesday night.

The win took the Pharaohs to the top of the Group G table, while Togo remained fourth on the standings with two matches left.

The Pharaohs were in control of the match from the start and they deservedly broke the deadlock 18 minutes into the game after some good work by Mohamed Magdi Kafsha.

The Al Ahly midfielder intercepted a poor clearance and made some room for himself, before unleashing a powerful shot which beat Togo goalkeeper Malcolm Barcola to make it 1-0 to Egypt.

The Sparrow Hawks tried to respond with a goal, but France-based winger Gilles Sunu’s headed effort went straight into Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy’s hands.

The visitors looked dangerous every time they pushed forward and they managed to double their lead after some poor defending by the Togo defence three minutes after the half-hour mark.

Kangnivi Amatchoutchoui let a long ball from El-Shenawy bounce between him and Barcola and Mohamed Sherif pounced and scored to make it 2-0 to Egypt.

The score was 2-0 to Egypt at the interval with Sherif and Kafsha having grabbed their maiden goals for the Pharaohs.

Togo’s veteran coach Claude Le Roy introduced Koffi Atchou and Marouf Tchakei prior to the start of the second-half as the hosts looked to pull one back.

However, the Sparrow Hawks’ defence was struggling to contain the Pharaohs’ lively attackers Sherif, Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan and Ahmed ‘Koka’ Hassan.

Record seven-time African champions Egypt extended their lead in the 52nd minute when Trezeguet scored with a half-volley after the Togo defence had failed to clear their lines.

The home side had a chance to pull one back after the Pharaohs defence was exposed, but El-Shenawy pulled off a good save to deny Togolese hitman Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba.

However, Togo managed to pull one back through second-half substitute Elom Nya-Vedji, who beat El-Shenawy with a good finish to make it 3-1 in stoppage-time.

Egypt then stood firm at the back and ultimately, they ran out 3-1 winners on the night as they completed a double against Togo having secured a 1-0 win at home in Cairo on Saturday.

Togo (0) 1 (Nya-Vedji 90’+3)

Egypt (2) 3 (Kafsha 18′, Sherif 33′, Trezeguet 52′)

Togo: Barcola, Djene, Amatchoutchoui, Bessile, Lawson, Ayite (Tchakei 46′), Dossevi (Doke 70′), Sunu (Nya-Vedji 70′), Laba, Bebou (Atchou 46′), Mlapa (Denkey 64′).

Egypt: El-Shenawy, Ashraf, Hegazi, El-Winsh, Fathi, Hamed, Tawfik, Kafsha (Said 69′), Sherif (Sayed 56′), Trezeguet (Sobhi 69′), Koka (Mostafa 56′).