Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt’s national football team was unable to secure early qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being held to a goalless draw by Burkina Faso on Tuesday evening. The match, part of the eighth round of African qualifiers, took place at the Stade du 4 Août in Ouagadougou, the Burkinabé capital.
The result means Egypt, who remain unbeaten in Group A, will have to wait to officially book their place at the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The game dealt an early blow to the Pharaohs when key forward Omar Marmoush suffered an injury just eight minutes into the match. Unable to continue, Marmoush’s substitution disrupted Egypt’s attacking rhythm and limited their offensive options for the rest of the contest.
Despite the stalemate, Egypt retains a strong grip on the top of the group with 20 points from six wins and two draws. They hold a five-point lead over second-placed Burkina Faso, who have now collected 15 points and remain Egypt’s closest challengers for the sole automatic qualification spot.
The draw, while disappointing for Egyptian fans hoping for an early celebration, leaves the team just one point away from securing their spot in the 2026 World Cup. With two fixtures remaining against Djibouti and Guinea-Bissau qualification remains highly likely.
Group A Standings (after 8 rounds):
- Egypt – 20 points
- Burkina Faso – 15 points
- Sierra Leone – 12 points
- Guinea-Bissau – 10 points
- Ethiopia – 6 points
- Djibouti – 1 point
Egypt’s upcoming matches are widely viewed as favorable, particularly the fixture against Djibouti, who sit bottom of the group with just a single point. Should Egypt secure at least a draw in that game, they will officially qualify for the 2026 World Cup, continuing their resurgence under the current coaching staff and marking their second qualification in the last three editions of the tournament.
With tension mounting and only two matchdays left in the qualifiers, Egypt will be keen to avoid any late surprises, while Burkina Faso still holds a mathematical chance should the leaders stumble unexpectedly.
