Preview: Egypt vs. Botswana – prediction, team news, lineups

With their place in their home tournament already guaranteed, Egypt end their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign on Tuesday when they host Botswana in Cairo’s June 30 Stadium on Tuesday.

Having lost each of the last four meetings between the two nations, the Zebras will go into the group final looking to edge one over the home side and secure qualification for the continental showpiece for the first time since 2012.

Match preview

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Egypt’s 100% record in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign came to an end on Friday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Cape Verde at the Estadio Nacional de Cabo Verde.

Al Ahly attacking Taher Mohamed finished off a well-worked team goal a minute after the half-hour mark to give the Pharaohs a first-half lead, but the experienced striker Ryan Mendes converted his penalty in the 63rd minute to give Cape Verde a crucial point in their qualifying run.

By then, Egypt had already secured their place in the continental showpiece for a fifth consecutive edition, winning each of their first four matches, seeing off Cape Verde and Botswana in September before claiming successive victories over Mauritania in October double header.

With Friday’s result, Hossam Hassan‘s men have now gone seven games in a row without defeat across all competitions, claiming two draws and five wins, including a 2-1 victory over Burkina Faso in 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying, where they lead Group A with 10 points from four games.

Egypt will be backing themselves to bounce back on Tuesday when they return home, where they are on a run of 12 competitive wins stretching back to a 1-1 draw with Kenya in AFCON qualifying back in November 2019.

Botswana, on the other hand, failed to secure their place in Morocco next year as they played out a somewhat disappointing 1-1 draw with Mauritania when the two nations played at the Obert Itani Chilume Stadium.

AEK Athens man Aboubakary Koita opened the scoring in the seventh minute to put Mauritania in front, but the hosts hit back minutes later through Gilbert Baruti when they settled for part of the booty at Francistown.

Before that, Morena Ramoreboli‘s men started the campaign with back-to-back defeats to Mauritania and Egypt back in September before bouncing back with back-to-back wins over Cape Verde in October’s double-header.

Botswana, who have failed to feature in AFCON since their group stage exit in 2012, have picked up seven points from a possible 15 to finish second in Group C, five points off leaders Egypt and just three above third-placed Cape Verde.

While the Zebras only need a tie at the stadium on June 30 to keep their feet in their own hands and end their 12-year absence from the continental showpiece, they have lost each of their last four games against Egypt, conceding nine goals and failing to finding the back of the net since the 1-1 draw in June 2013.

Egypt Africa Cup of Nations qualification format:

Egypt form (all competitions):

Botswana Africa Cup of Nations Qualification Form:

Botswana form (all competitions):

Team news

© Imago

Egypt will have to do without the services of Zamalek midfielder Mohamed Shehata, who was forced off injured in the sixth minute against Cape Verde on Friday.

In his absence, clubmate Nabil Donga should enter the fray, alongside Ahmed Nabil Koka and 23-year-old Mahmoud Saber in the middle of the park.

Taher Mohamed put in an eye-catching display on the right side of Egypt’s attack against Cape Verde, and the Al Ahly forward should form the front three with Osama Faisal and Ibrahim Adel one more time.

As for Botswana, we expect Ramoreboli to name an unchanged XI on Tuesday, meaning we should see a back four of Alford Velaphi, Mosha Gaolaolwe, Thatayaone Ditlokwe, Mothusi Johnson shielding Goitseone Phoko in goal.

Aso Chlef man Gape Mohutsiwa must merge with Godiraone Modingwane and Gilbert Baruti in midfield while we expect Thabang Sesinyi, Cable Seakanyeng and 28 years old Tumisang Orebonye to lead the attack.

Egypt’s possible starting line-up:
El-Shenawy; Hamdi, Rabia, Fath, Eid; Donga, Saber, Koka; Mohamed, Faisal, Adel

Botswana’s possible starting line-up:
Phoko; Velaphi, Gaolaolwe, Ditlokwe, Johnson; Mohutsiwa, Modingwane, Baruti; Sesinyi, Seakanyeng, Orebonye

We say: Egypt 1-1 Botswana

While Egypt can rest on their laurels, having already secured qualification, Botswana need a point at the stadium on June 30 to end their 12-year AFCON absence. The Pharaohs go into the game as firm favorites on paper, but we predict Ramoreboli’s men will do just enough to force a share of the spoils and secure their place in Morocco next year.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match, please click here.

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