Afsha strike hands Egypt win over Tunisia in “B” team friendly

Al Ahly’s Mohamed Magdy Afsha led Egypt’s second national team to a 1-0 victory over Tunisia in a friendly clash on Saturday, as preparations began for the upcoming Arab Cup in Qatar this December.

It was the debut outing for coach Helmy Toulan’s side, a squad built from players not called up to the senior national team currently competing in the World Cup qualifiers. The match was staged at the Suez Canal Authority Stadium in Ismailia, setting the stage for Egypt’s journey towards the Arab Cup, scheduled between December 1 and 18.

The opening stages saw Egypt dominate possession without creating clear danger. The first real chance arrived in the 19th minute when Afsha’s free-kick flashed narrowly wide. Minutes later, Amr El Solia tried his luck from distance, only to see his effort sail over the bar.

The breakthrough came in the 31st minute. Mahmoud ElWensh launched a counter-attack then Afsha and Marwan Hamdy made a one-two play before Afsha powered forward and unleashed a fierce strike into the Tunisian net for the only goal of the game. Egypt nearly doubled their lead soon after through Hamdy and later Karim Hafez, but Tunisia’s goalkeeper stood firm.

After halftime, the North Africans pushed forward in search of an equalizer. Ahmed El Shenawy proved decisive, pulling off a pair of superb saves in the 53rd and 56th minutes to preserve Egypt’s advantage. Tensions flared in the 81st minute as a scuffle between the players saw Mohamed Elneny booked, but the Egyptians held on until the final whistle.

The result gives Egypt’s “second team” a positive start to their preparations for the Arab Cup, with a second friendly against Tunisia scheduled for Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m GMT.

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