The Pharaohs slumped into an embarrassing 0 – 0 tie to a relatively young and inexperienced Ghanaian counterpart in Ismailia. Although there were a few tactical benefits to the game, with Mohsen Saleh standing on the quality of several players, the goalless game was clearly a disgrace for both teams. The Egyptian National team should have done better against a significantly weaker side, but too much experimentation with players and gameplans, as well as a lingering fear of an embarrassing loss may have affected the quality of the game.

First Half

The Ghanaian National team was able to hold it’s Egyptian counterpart to a 0 – 0 draw at the end of the first half of their scheduled international friendly encounter. Mohsen Saleh started the game with an interesting offensive 3-6-1 formation with most of the offense coming in from the right flank headed by Sayed AbdelHafiz and Mohammed Barakat.

It was not until the 10th minute till Ahmed Belal was able to rocket a 35 yard strike that sailed just wide of the post. Ghana’s Williams replied with a similar effort just two minutes after.

By the 15th minute it was becoming more and more evident that Sayed AbdelHafiz and Mohammed Barakat were the ones setting the tempo for the Egyptian National team. Barakat and AbdelHafiz were not held back by Ghana’s only professional on the team, Prince, who plays his soccer in Russia. The offensive right midfield kept the left flank in defense most of the time, as Tarek El-Sayyed and Hany Said rarely advanced.

Hazem Emam mis-volleyed an excellent cross in from Hany Said that could have otherwise been a spectacular goal for the little fox.

Hany Ramzy continued his excellent role in midfield, spearheading the attack on many occasions and providing defensive support when needed. Ramzy crossed in a ball to Belal on the 18th minute that found it’s way to Tarek El-Sayed in the penalty box who got in an excellent strike at goal, but unfortunately went too wide.

As time progressed in the first half it was more evident that the Ghanaians were resorting to tactical rough play to thwart the Pharaohs mounting pressure. As a result, two Ghanaian players were cautioned with yellow cards.

Medhat AbdelHady committed what could have been an enormous defensive blunder when he sent in a slow pass back to Essam El-Hadary not aware that there was a Ghanaian striker ready to obstruct his pass. Shady Mohammed cleared the ball just in time.

In the last fifteen minutes of the first half, Mohsen Saleh returned back Mohammed Barakat to the right back position, pushing up AbdelHafiz up front. AbdelHafiz provided inspirational play and linked up with Belal and Emam on many occasions.

Beshir El-Tabei’y struck a long-range free kick from over 30 yards that went just wide of the left post.

The best scoring chance of the first half came in on the 40th minute when a Ramzy conducted free kick caught the Ghanaian defense napping as Barakat went one-on-one with the keeper, but lobbed in his ball only inches above the cross bar.

Hany Ramzy returned minutes later to spectaculary head in a Sayed AbdelHafiz cross-in just wide of the goal from inside the six-yard box.

Second Half

There were a few changes as expected in the second half as Essam El-Hadary and Tarek El-Sayed made way for AbdelWahed El-Sayed and Sayed Moawwad. At this point the gameplan was not affected, and similar playing to the first half continued for a while.

By the 50th minute the Pharaohs were going on an all-out offensive with Mohammed Barakat making an excellent cross in to Belal who headed the ball agonizingly into the bar and out to a goalkick.

The turning point of the game however came in the 60th minute when Hazem Emam and Shady Mohammed made way for Mohammed Gouda and AbdelHalim Aly with coach Saleh shifting the players around on the field. Hany Ramzy was returned to the sweeper position while Gouda and Aly pushed forward to aid the offense. Ghana also substituted in one striker for another, with number 10 coming out for Eric Akun.

Soon after the change Barakat sent in a 20 yard scorcher that was only slightly off target.

Abdelhalim Aly returned minutes later to go one-on-one with the Ghanaian keeper but shot too wide of the goal. The ball rebounded off to a defender who cleared it out before an advancing Mohammed Barakat.

After 68 minutes AbdelWahed El-Sayyed saved the Pharaohs from an almost guaranteed goal when he blocked an excellent header from Ghanaian substitute, Eric Akun, the best play of the entire game.

Tamer AbdelHamid got some action on 75 minutes when he came in for Hany Said. Soon after, Sayed AbdelHafiz got in a strike that went too high, too wide. Medhat AbdelHady also made way for Wael Gomaa.

The game died soon after the substitutions with absolutely no chances after that. Play was rocking back and forth in the midfield with no clear goalscoring intentions from either team.

Tactical Corner

The substitutes seemed to have taken much of the quality of the game, after clearly being of less readiness than the starters. Mohammed Gouda and AbdelHalim Aly rarely touched the ball after being introduced into the match and Ahmed Belal seemed to be lost the entire game.

Saleh attempted introducing a more vital left flank in the second half by substituting in Sayed Moawwad and Mohammed Gouda on the left flank. Although Moawwad did get in a few crosses, the left flank seemed to be in much disarray and held back AbdelHafiz and Barakat from a more offensive role on the right flank as they had done in the first half.

The midfield clearly dropped following Hany Ramzy’s shift back to the defense. Hany Said and later on, Tamer AbdelHamid could not fill in for Ramzy effectively.

There were a few benefits from the game as AbdelWahed El-Sayyed was tested at least on one chance and rose to the occasion accordingly. The National Team’s defensive composure held through the match with very little mistakes. The midfield aided the attack greatly in the first half but soon dropped performance in the second half.

Mohsen Saleh has to do his homework now before facing Senegal in the much-awaited friendly next month. The National team will face off against Senegal and Denmark in preparation for the upcoming African Nations Cup qualifier versus Mauritius.