Egypt has officially booked their spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a commanding 3-0 triumph over Djibouti at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Pharaohs took control from the outset, with early goals from Ibrahim Adel and Mohamed Salah, setting a relentless tempo. Salah, the Liverpool forward, later cemented the victory by netting his second goal in the final moments, pushing Egypt’s lead to five points ahead of Burkina Faso with only one qualifier left to play.
This result not only guarantees Egypt’s presence at the upcoming global tournament but also preserves their unbeaten streak in Group A. Meanwhile, Djibouti was eager to avoid another heavy defeat after suffering a 6-0 loss to Egypt in their previous encounter last November.
The match quickly tilted in Egypt’s favor as they scored within the opening eight minutes. Zizo delivered a precise cross from the right flank, which Ibrahim Adel expertly headed into the net. Just seven minutes later, Salah extended the lead by sprinting onto a pass from Trezeguet and calmly finishing past Djibouti’s goalkeeper Omar Mahamoud.
Despite Egypt’s early dominance, Djibouti struggled to capitalize on their possession and create meaningful chances throughout the first half and into the second. It wasn’t until the 84th minute that Egypt definitively sealed the outcome.
Earlier, in the 68th minute, Egypt came close to increasing their advantage when a frantic scramble inside Djibouti’s box saw the ball rebound off the post twice following a corner kick.
In the closing stages, Salah put the game beyond doubt with a composed finish six minutes before full time, expertly converting a perfectly timed through ball from Marwan Ateya that sliced through Djibouti’s defensive line.