Egypt beat Ethiopia 2-0 on September 5, 2025. It was a calm, controlled win for the Pharaohs at Cairo International Stadium. Two penalties before half-time did the job. Mohamed Salah scored the first. Omar Marmoush added the second. Ethiopia barely threatened.
This was a World Cup 2026 qualifying match in CAF Group A. A big result for Egypt’s chances. A tough night for Ethiopia.
Let’s break it all down — goals, lineups, stats, the table, and what happens next.
Quick Match Summary
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Competition | FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifying — CAF Group A (Round 7) |
| Date | Friday, September 5, 2025 |
| Kickoff | 19:00 UTC |
| Venue | Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt |
| Attendance | 37,000 |
| Capacity | 74,100 |
| Result | Egypt 2–0 Ethiopia |
| Scorers | Salah 41′ (pen), Marmoush 45+2′ (pen) |
| Weather | 29°C, Grass pitch |
How the Goals Were Scored?
Both goals came before half-time. Both were penalties. Egypt made Ethiopia pay for two fouls in the box.
Goal 1 — Mohamed Salah (41st Minute, Penalty)
Salah stepped up and was calm. He sent the keeper the wrong way. It was 1–0 just before the break. Classic Salah. No drama, just done.
Goal 2 — Omar Marmoush (45+2, Penalty)
In stoppage time of the first half, Egypt won a second penalty. Marmoush took it. He scored too. Egypt went in at half-time 2–0 up. The game was essentially over.
Key Events Timeline
| Time | Event | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 36′ | Injury concern (not on pitch) | Mohamed Sobhi (EGY) |
| 38′ | Yellow card | Suleman Hamid (ETH) |
| 41′ | GOAL — Penalty | Mohamed Salah (EGY) |
| 45+2′ | GOAL — Penalty | Omar Marmoush (EGY) |
| 46′ | Sub — Sherifa on, Tekeste off | Ethiopia |
| 63′ | Sub — Ibrahim Adel on, Zizo off | Egypt |
| 63′ | Sub — Lasheen on, Marmoush off | Egypt |
| 73′ | Sub — Reshid on, Tonjo off | Ethiopia |
| 73′ | Sub — Gugsa on, Hamid off | Ethiopia |
| 79′ | Sub — Mostafa Mohamed on, Trezeguet off | Egypt |
| 79′ | Sub — Saber on, Faisal off | Egypt |
| 84′ | Sub — B. Wolde on, Gezahegn off | Ethiopia |
| 84′ | Sub — M. Abera on, Markneh off | Ethiopia |
| 88′ | Sub — Dunga on, Salah off | Egypt |
Starting Lineups
Egypt (4-1-4-1)
Coach: Hossam Hassan
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | Mohamed El Shenawy |
| RB | Mohamed Hany |
| CB | Rami Rabia |
| CB | Khaled Sobhi |
| LB | Mohamed Hamdi |
| DM | Hamdi Fathi |
| RM | Mohamed Salah |
| CM | Zizo |
| CM | Omar Marmoush |
| LM | Trezeguet |
| ST | Osama Faisal |
Ethiopia (5-4-1)
Coach: Mesay Kassa
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | Abubeker Nura |
| RWB | Habtamu Tekeste |
| CB | Ramkel James |
| CB | Yared Baye |
| CB | Asrat Tonjo |
| LWB | Yared Kassaye |
| RM | Suleman Hamid |
| CM | Canaan Markneh |
| CM | Wogene Gezahegn |
| LM | Bereket Desta |
| ST | Beneyam Belay |
Tactical Analysis: Why Egypt Won So Easily?
Egypt set up in a 4-1-4-1. It was a shape built to control the game. Hamdi Fathi sat deep as the lone holding midfielder. Salah and Marmoush had freedom to roam.
Ethiopia went with a 5-4-1. This is a setup meant to defend. Five at the back, four in midfield. One striker up top. Ethiopia wanted to keep it tight. It didn’t work.
Here’s why:
- Egypt pressed high. They didn’t let Ethiopia breathe out of their own half.
- Ethiopia’s full-backs pushed too high. That left space behind. Egypt found it.
- Fathi controlled the middle. No counter-attacks got through him.
- Salah and Marmoush created chaos. Two world-class players at this level is just unfair.
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan was smart. He brought on fresh legs at 63 minutes when the game was already won. Mostafa Mohamed and Ibrahim Adel came on. No risk taken. Smart management.
Man of the Match: Mohamed Salah
Salah started it. He won the penalty. He scored it. Then he made life hard for Ethiopia’s back five all game long.
He was replaced in the 88th minute to rest him ahead of upcoming fixtures. That tells you how much Egypt value him — and how little they needed him to stay on once the points were safe.
At FIFA ranking #34, Egypt have players who play at the very top of European football. Salah plays for Liverpool in the Premier League. Marmoush plays for Manchester City. Ethiopia (ranked #146) simply don’t have that.
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Head-to-Head Record: Egypt vs Ethiopia
| Stat | Total |
|---|---|
| Egypt Wins | 2 |
| Ethiopia Wins | 1 |
| Draws | 0 |
| Total Games | 3 |
Egypt have the edge in this matchup. They won twice, Ethiopia once. No draws in their history.
Recent H2H Results
| Date | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2025 | Egypt vs Ethiopia | Egypt 2–0 Ethiopia |
| Earlier 2025 | Ethiopia vs Egypt | Ethiopia 0–2 Egypt |
| Previous meeting | Ethiopia vs Egypt | Ethiopia 1–0 Egypt |
Egypt won both 2025 meetings. Ethiopia’s only win came in an earlier game. The gap between the two teams has grown.
Team Form Going Into This Game
Egypt’s Last 5 Results
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| Egypt vs Sierra Leone | Win 1–0 |
| Ethiopia vs Egypt | Win 0–2 |
| Egypt vs Botswana | Draw 1–1 |
| Cape Verde vs Egypt | Draw 1–1 |
| Egypt vs Mauritania | Win 1–0 |
Egypt had not lost in 10 matches before this game. Strong, steady form. They grind out wins. Even the draws were against decent sides.
Ethiopia’s Last 5 Results
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| Ethiopia vs Djibouti | Win 6–1 |
| Egypt vs Ethiopia | Loss 0–2 |
| DR Congo vs Ethiopia | Loss 1–2 |
| Ethiopia vs Tanzania | Loss 0–2 |
| Ethiopia vs Guinea | Loss 0–3 |
Ethiopia had not kept a clean sheet in 7 games before this. That stat says it all. Their defence has been leaking goals. Only that 6–1 win over Djibouti makes their recent record look decent at all.
World Cup 2026 Qualifying — CAF Group A Context
This was Round 7 of the CAF World Cup qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
CAF gets 9 spots at the 2026 World Cup. It’s up from the usual 5. More African teams will be there than ever before.
Why This Match Mattered?
- Egypt needed the win to keep pace at the top of Group A.
- Ethiopia needed points to avoid falling further behind.
- Egypt got what they came for. Ethiopia did not.
Egypt’s home form has been excellent. 37,000 fans at Cairo International Stadium saw their team win with room to spare.
Stadium Info: Cairo International Stadium
| Stat | Info |
|---|---|
| Name | Cairo International Stadium |
| City | Cairo, Egypt |
| Capacity | 74,100 |
| Attendance (this match) | 37,000 |
| Surface | Grass |
The stadium was just over half full. Still a big crowd. Cairo International is one of the biggest stadiums in Africa. Egypt use it as a fortress.
Egypt’s Key Players to Watch
Mohamed Salah (Number 10)
The best player in Africa, arguably. Plays for Liverpool. Scored on penalties. Will be key for Egypt all the way through qualifying and at the World Cup.
Omar Marmoush (Number 22)
Plays for Manchester City. Scored Egypt’s second. Fast, direct, dangerous. He and Salah together give Egypt one of the best attacking pairs in African football.
Hamdi Fathi (Number 14)
The anchor in Egypt’s midfield. He makes sure nothing gets through. Quiet game but vital. Ethiopia had no way past him.
Ethiopia’s Challenges
Ethiopia (FIFA #146) are a long way behind Egypt (FIFA #34) in world rankings. And you can see why.
- They played a 5-4-1 — set up just to defend.
- Still let in two goals, both from penalties.
- They’ve kept just one clean sheet in their last 8 games.
- Their striker, Beneyam Belay, had almost no service.
Ethiopia do have some bright moments. Their 6–1 win over Djibouti showed they can score. But against better teams, they struggle badly. DR Congo, Tanzania, and Guinea all beat them in recent games.
Coach Mesay Kassa has work to do. The team needs better structure out of possession.
What Happens Next?
Egypt will push on in Group A qualification. With Salah and Marmoush fit, they are heavy favourites to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Egypt last played at a World Cup in 2018. Fans are desperate to see them back.
Ethiopia will need to regroup. Their upcoming qualifying games against lower-ranked sides could still give them hope. But reaching the World Cup looks very hard from here.
FAQs — Ethiopia vs Egypt (Sep 5, 2025)
Q: What was the final score of Ethiopia vs Egypt? Egypt won 2–0. Both goals were penalties in the first half.
Q: Who scored for Egypt? Mohamed Salah (41′) and Omar Marmoush (45+2′) both scored from the penalty spot.
Q: Where was the match played? At Cairo International Stadium in Cairo, Egypt.
Q: What competition was this? FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifying — CAF Group A, Round 7.
Q: What is the H2H record between Egypt and Ethiopia? Egypt have 2 wins, Ethiopia have 1 win, and there are 0 draws in their all-time meetings.
Q: How has Egypt been playing recently? Egypt had not lost in 10 matches heading into this game. They are in strong form.
Q: How has Ethiopia been playing recently? Ethiopia had not kept a clean sheet in 7 games before this match. They lost to DR Congo, Tanzania, and Guinea in their recent run.
Q: What are the FIFA rankings of Egypt and Ethiopia? Egypt are ranked #34 in the world. Ethiopia are ranked #146.
Q: Who was Egypt’s coach for this match? Hossam Hassan. He is a legend of Egyptian football and has managed the team in qualifying.
Q: Who was Ethiopia’s coach? Mesay Kassa.
Q: What formation did Egypt play? Egypt played 4-1-4-1 with Hamdi Fathi as the holding midfielder and Salah and Marmoush in behind the striker.
Q: What formation did Ethiopia use? Ethiopia set up in a 5-4-1, looking to be compact and hard to break down.
Q: Did Mohamed Salah play the full game? No. Salah was substituted off in the 88th minute. Nabil Dunga came on to replace him.
Q: How many people attended the match? 37,000 fans watched at Cairo International Stadium, which has a capacity of 74,100.
Q: How does this result affect World Cup qualifying? Egypt gained 3 points and stay in a strong position in CAF Group A for the 2026 World Cup.
Final Thoughts
This was never going to be close. Egypt vs Ethiopia on paper looked one-sided, and on the pitch it was. Two penalties before half-time. A clean sheet. Salah and Marmoush doing what they do.
Egypt look well placed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Ethiopia have a lot of ground to make up — not just in this qualifying group, but in how they develop as a squad.
If you love African football, keep watching. CAF qualifying has some great stories still to tell.