Libreville – Arab Today
CAF have announced the appointment of Otogo Castane for the North African clash between Egypt and Morocco in the quarterfinals of the 2017 AFCON, scheduled for Sunday.
The Gabonese referee has most recently officiated Egypt’s World Cup qualifier against Ghana held in Alexandria in which Egypt managed to win 2-0.
The Pharaohs have qualified to the quarterfinals after earning first place of Group D by managing to beat second placed Ghana to earn them a total of seven points.
The Atlas Lions on the other hand were ranked second in a tough group that saw them beat Cote d’Ivoire with DR Congo earning first place in that group.
Egypt national team assistant coach Mahmoud Fayez said the technical staff headed by Argentinean coach Hector Cuper considers Sunday's game against Morocco in the quarterfinals of 2017 Africa Cup of Nations the hardest game in the tournament.
"Cuper sees the game against Morocco is the hardest game in the tournament for two reasons," Fayez said.
"The first reason is that losing to Morocco means leaving the tournament directly, while the second is that Morocco national team is the strongest in the AFCON with tactics as well as individual performance of the players," the Egypt assistant coach added.
The Pharaohs, who led Group D with 7 points, will face Morocco, who finished second in Group C with 6 point, in the quarterfinals on Sunday evening, with the winner playing either Tunisia or Burkina Faso in the semifinals.