Can Salah inspire a winning start for Egypt's new coach? Egypt vs Malawi prediction – 13.11.2026
On Friday, November 13, 2026, Egypt will welcome Malawi to Cairo International Stadium for the third round of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. Kick-off is scheduled for 19:00 GMT. The Pharaohs currently lead Group B on goal difference with four points, while Malawi sit third with three. With a new coach making his debut and several attacking stars returning to the squad, Egypt will be looking to strengthen their position at the top of the standings.
Egypt: A new chapter begins with the return of Mohamed Salah
Egypt approach this international fixture following a significant change in management. Hossam Hassan was dismissed on November 7, with Ali Maher appointed as his replacement. The new head coach will make his debut against Malawi, hoping to bring greater consistency to a team that has experienced mixed results in recent months.
The Pharaohs began their qualifying campaign with a disappointing goalless draw against Angola in Cairo. However, they responded emphatically with a 5-0 away victory over South Sudan, demonstrating the attacking quality available within the squad.
Their most recent match ended in a 1-0 friendly defeat against South Africa. Egypt have consequently failed to score in their last two home appearances, an unusual statistic for a team possessing so much attacking talent.
Nevertheless, Maher has received several important reinforcements. Captain Mohamed Salah returns after missing the previous two international fixtures, while Omar Marmoush and the fit-again Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet offer further attacking options.
Goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy has also been recalled, alongside Mahmoud Hamdy El Wensh, Mohamed Shehata, Mahmoud Marei and Nasser Maher. Egyptian Premier League leading scorer Mahmoud Mamdouh has earned his first international call-up after scoring eight domestic goals.
However, the hosts have some personnel concerns. Mostafa Ziko is suspended, while midfielder Hamdy Fathy is unavailable through injury.
With Salah and Marmoush available, Egypt possess considerably more attacking firepower than in their previous home appearances. Maher's immediate challenge will be to transform that individual quality into a convincing collective performance.
Malawi: Defensive problems threaten qualification ambitions
Malawi have experienced an inconsistent start to their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign under head coach Kalisto Pasuwa.
The Flames opened with a hard-fought 2-1 home victory over South Sudan, but were unable to maintain that momentum, suffering a 3-1 away defeat against Angola.
Those results leave Malawi with three points after two rounds, one behind Egypt and Angola. Another defeat would significantly complicate their ambitions of qualifying for the continental tournament.
Their away record is particularly concerning. Malawi have failed to win any of their last five away matches, losing three of them in regular time and failing to score in three.
Defensive concentration has also been a recurring problem. Against Angola, the Flames struggled to contain attacking movement and conceded three goals, exposing weaknesses that could prove costly against Egypt's technically gifted forwards.
Pasuwa has named a 24-player squad featuring 15 foreign-based footballers. Forward Lanjesi Nkhoma returns after missing the previous three call-ups, while Richard Mbulu, Babatunde Adepoju and Mwisho Mhango strengthen the attacking options.
However, Malawi must cope without defender Denis Chembezi, who is injured. Forward Mayele Malango is unavailable because of club commitments, while goalkeeper William Thole was omitted because of limited playing time.
The visitors are likely to adopt a compact defensive structure and rely on quick counterattacks, hoping to exploit any uncertainty in Egypt's tactical organization under their new coach.
Probable lineups
- Egypt: El Shenawy; Mohamed Hany, Abdelmaguid, Rabia, Ahmed Fatouh; Marwan Attia, Mohannad Lasheen, Nasser Maher; Mohamed Salah, Omar Marmoush, Trezeguet.
- Malawi: Chikooka; Rameck, Petro, Nyirenda, Jaziya, Gomezgani Chirwa; Gaddie Chirwa, Njaliwa, Singo, Mwaungulu; Babatunde Adepoju.
Match facts and head-to-head statistics
- Egypt have collected four points from their opening two qualifiers, scoring five goals without conceding.
- Malawi have three points, with three goals scored and four conceded.
- Egypt defeated South Sudan 5-0 in their latest qualifying fixture.
- Malawi lost 3-1 against Angola in their most recent qualifier.
- Malawi have failed to win their last five away matches.
- Egypt won both meetings in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, triumphing 2-0 and 4-0.
- Egypt have won four of their six previous encounters with Malawi.
Will Egypt's attacking stars make the difference? Egypt vs Malawi prediction
Egypt enter this encounter as clear favourites, possessing significantly greater individual quality and a strong historical record against Malawi.
The appointment of Ali Maher introduces an element of uncertainty, but the return of Salah should provide a major boost to the team's offensive capabilities. Alongside Marmoush and Trezeguet, the Liverpool captain gives Egypt several different ways to break down a compact defence.
Malawi have demonstrated that they can create scoring opportunities, particularly against opponents who leave space during attacking transitions. However, their defensive vulnerabilities and disappointing away results make it difficult to imagine them keeping Egypt quiet throughout the encounter.
The Pharaohs have already scored five goals in a single qualifying match, while Malawi conceded three against Angola. If the hosts establish control early, their attacking depth could generate numerous chances.
Although Egypt's recent home performances suggest some caution is necessary, the combination of a new managerial approach, returning attacking players and Malawi's defensive struggles makes a relatively high-scoring contest a realistic possibility.
