World Cup (Q): Djibouti coach Nado vows to fight despite Egypt’s strength

Djibouti coach Stephane Nado said his charges will face a tough task when they play Group A leaders Egypt on Wednesday in World Cup qualifying. The Shoremen of the Red Sea are last in the group with a single point as they take on the Pharaohs, who will confirm qualification for the finals with a victory in Casablanca.

Nado was appointed in June 2025 but has lost all his qualifying games while since taking charge. The head coach admitted his side is inferior to the Pharaohs but vowed to do everything possible to get a positive result:

“We are trying to find situations where we can create imbalances against this Egyptian team. We also need to take the opportunities we get when we have the ball. We must try to exploit those imbalances and put this team under pressure when we are in possession.”

Djibouti will be facing one of the strongest nations in African football. Nado stated they are aware of that but wants his side to remain optimistic. “We must have that ambition as well, even though we know it is going to be difficult. We will have to defend a lot against a very compact opposition. But I also want us to have the ambition to attack and cause them problems.”

Federation president Souleiman Hassan Waberi met with Nado in September 2025 and emphasized that results must improve successive losses in September left the lowly ranked nation bottom of the group.

They will wrap up their campaign against Sierra Leone on October 12 after Wednesday’s clash with the North African giants.