BETTING GUIDE: Egypt Vs Cape Verde, match preview, team news and betting tip

As part of their preparations for the upcoming FIFA Arab Cup in December, Egypt will take on Cape Verde in a high-profile friendly at the Al Maktoum Stadium on Monday.

Although this fixture carries no competitive weight, it arrives at a crucial moment for both sides: Egypt seeking to re-establish rhythm after a rare setback, and Cape Verde looking to maintain the momentum that carried them through a historic World Cup qualification campaign.

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With both nations already qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the encounter serves as a valuable barometer of form, structure, and squad readiness heading into a defining period.

Egypt come into this match on the back of an uncharacteristic 2-0 defeat to Uzbekistan, a result that halted what had been one of their best stretches of form in recent years. Before that loss, the Pharaohs had gone eight matches unbeaten, winning seven of them without conceding.

Their World Cup qualifying campaign was dominant and emphatic: eight wins, two draws, 20 goals scored and only two conceded.

A defensive shield led by Mohamed El Shenawy and a consistently balanced midfield structure allowed Egypt to breeze through WC qualification and secure their direct ticket early.

Yet the loss to Uzbekistan exposed some familiar issues - slow central circulation, predictable possession, and difficulty breaking down compact defensive blocks.

It served as a reminder that despite their impressive qualification run, Egypt’s attacking cohesion remains fragile when Mohamed Salah isn’t heavily involved.

With their preparations for the Arab Cup now accelerating, head coach Hossam Hassan is expected to field a stronger and more assertive side this time around, especially with Omar Marmoush - who missed the previous friendly - returning to the starting lineup.

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Salah and Marmoush will likely spearhead the attack, with Mostafa Mohamed completing what has become Egypt’s most reliable and dynamic front three.

In midfield, Marwan Attia and Zizo are expected to control the tempo, offering defensive balance and line-breaking movement.

Defensively, Rami Rabia, Mohamed Shehata and Mohamed Hany should maintain continuity in a back four that, prior to the Uzbekistan defeat, had produced seven clean sheets in eight matches.

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Cape Verde, meanwhile, arrive in Dubai as one of Africa’s biggest revelations.

No team shocked the continent more during the World Cup qualifying campaign.

After a disappointing AFCON outing, few predicted the Blue Sharks would regroup with such resilience, but Bubista’s men produced a near-perfect run, collecting 23 points from 10 matches and finishing top of Group D - ahead of Cameroon, Angola and Libya.

Their qualification was no fluke: Cape Verde have developed a well-drilled, intelligent and cohesive unit capable of matching superior opponents in transitional moments, defensive compactness, and set-piece structures.

Their recent 0-0 draw with Iran - eventually losing on penalties - extended their unbeaten run across regular time to ten games, another indicator of their stability. With no major injuries reported,

Cape Verde are expected to retain the same starting XI that battled well against Iran.

Bubista’s side typically operate in a flexible 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, with the attacking creativity of Jamiro Monteiro, the directness of Ryan Mendes, and the off-ball aggression of Willy Semedo giving them multiple attacking outlets.

Defensively, Stopira and Diney provide strength and aerial dominance, while Vozinha remains a dependable presence between the posts.

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Despite their progress, Cape Verde’s away performances remain mixed.

They have managed only three victories in their last eleven away fixtures, often struggling to impose control or maintain intensity against elite-level opponents on foreign soil.

Their defensive shape is generally solid, but they often lack ball-retention quality in deeper zones, making them vulnerable to sustained pressure - a scenario Egypt will almost certainly attempt to create.

Historically, this is a young rivalry.

All three previous meetings between these sides have come within the last year, producing one Egypt win and two draws.

The most recent fixture ended 1-1 in November 2024, while Egypt won the earlier AFCON qualifier 3-0.

These recent duels have shown that Cape Verde are no longer an underdog but a disciplined opponent capable of frustrating Egypt, especially when the Pharaohs play with reduced tempo or rely excessively on individual brilliance.

This match is likely to emphasize structure and discipline rather than high tempo or open exchanges.

Egypt will push for control, using the likes of Salah and Marmoush to destabilize Cape Verde’s wide defensive channels.

The Blue Sharks will respond with compactness, waiting for moments probably to break through Livramento or Ryan Mendes. While both sides are strong defensively, Egypt’s superior attacking individuals and deeper squad quality should give them an edge.

Key Pointers

Egypt have won all but two of their last nine matches across all competitions.

Egypt have kept clean sheets in eight of their last nine fixtures.

Cape Verde have won only three of their last eleven away matches.

Egypt scored 13 goals in their last five home/neutral-venue wins.

Cape Verde’s unbeaten streak in regular time stands at 10 games.

All three historical meetings have been competitive, producing one Egypt win and two draws.

This is likely to be a high-scoring affair, but Egypt possess the stronger forward line and should bounce back from their setback.

Cape Verde’s away inconsistency may be decisive, while Egypt’s structure, experience, and elite attacking quality make them favourites to edge a controlled, disciplined contest.

Prediction; Egypt Win and Over1.5 goals

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