MATCH FACTS: Hosts Egypt look to progress against eliminated Tanzania

Already eliminated Tanzania face hosts Egypt in their final Group A game at the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with the two nations meeting for the first time at the continental finals on Friday.

Egypt must get a minimum of a point, which would not assure them of a place in the next round, but victory will see them advance.

This is Tanzania's second encounter with North African opposition at the finals. In their previous meeting, they lost 3-0 to Morocco in their final group game in 2023.

TANZANIA FACTS

• Tanzania have lost all three games at the current tournament, each by a 1-0 scoreline – against South Africa, Sierra Leone, and Zambia.
• They have now lost four consecutive matches at the U-20 AFCON, a first in their history.
• In their debut appearance in 2021, they lost to Ghana, drew 1-1 with Gambia, and were defeated by Morocco. This is the first time they’ve lost three games in a row.
• Across two tournament appearances (6 matches), Tanzania remain winless (D1, L5).
• If they lose to Egypt, they will become the first team to lose four games in a single edition since the tournament adopted its current format.
• Tanzania are also the only team yet to score at the 2025 finals.
• Coach Salum Mayanga has used 21 players so far, with only four players starting all three matches: Ashrafu Kibeku, Lameck Lawi, Bakari Mismu, and Ahmed Pipino.
• Despite their 1-0 loss to Zambia, Tanzania dominated possession with 57%.
• Ismail Ally was a standout in that match—attempting 7 crosses, completing 2 dribbles, winning 3 tackles (joint-most), and creating 2 chances.

EGYPT FACTS

• Egypt opened their campaign with a 1-0 win over South Africa, but followed it with a 4-1 loss to Sierra Leone and a goalless draw with Zambia.
• They are aiming to avoid back-to-back group stage exits, having also been eliminated at this stage in 2023 as hosts.
• If eliminated again, it would mark the fourth consecutive tournament where the host nation failed to reach the knockout phase (Niger in 2019, Mauritania in 2021, Egypt in 2023).
• Only Senegal (2015) and Zambia (2017) have advanced as hosts in the last eight editions. Others eliminated in the group stage include Rwanda (2009), South Africa (2011), Algeria (2013), and Egypt twice.
• If Egypt advance, it will be the seventh time they’ve reached the knockout stage since 1991.
• Egypt have never been eliminated at the group stage in three successive appearances – but they exited at this stage in both 2017 and 2023.
• Their victory over South Africa is their only win in their last nine tournament games (D5, L3).
• They’ve scored just two goals in three games, the same number they managed in 2017. They failed to score in 2023. A third goal would be their best tally since 2013, when they scored 7.
• Egypt have conceded four goals so far – only slightly better than the five goals conceded in 2023.
• In their draw with Zambia, Egypt completed 360 passes. Ahmed Kabaka led with 59 passes and has now created 7 chances, the most by any Egyptian at the finals.
• Egypt have registered 12 shots on target and scored 2 goals, giving them a shot conversion rate of 5.71%.
• They’ve been disciplined, receiving only one yellow card (Saif El Deen Essam vs South Africa), compared to Tanzania's 9—the most of any team.
• Five Egyptian players have started and completed all three group games: Ahmed Abdin, Abdel Monem Tamer, Abdallah Boustenji, Mohab Samby, and Ahmed Kabaka.