Egypt and Zambia Secure Key Wins at FIFA U-17 World Cup
Egypt and Zambia achieved important victories at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Qatar, while Cote d’Ivoire faced a tough defeat that puts their progression at risk.
Egypt Dominates Group E
Egypt comfortably defeated Haiti 4-1 in Group E, positioning themselves at the top of the table ahead of Venezuela. The North Africans showcased a balanced attack with four different scorers: Belal Attia, Abdelaziz El Zoghby, Hamza Abdelkarim, and Omar Kamal.
Venezuela also impressed by beating England 3-0 in the other Group E match. Egypt’s next challenge comes against Venezuela on Friday in a potentially decisive group encounter.
Zambia’s Comeback Victory in Group H
Zambia overcame an early setback to claim a 3-1 victory against Indonesia. The Zambian offense exploded in a six-minute span during the first half, with striker Abel Nyirongo scoring twice and Lukonde Mwale adding another goal.
Zambia will face Honduras on Friday, a team that suffered a heavy 7-0 defeat to Brazil in their opener.
Cote d’Ivoire Falls to Switzerland in Group F
Cote d’Ivoire struggled against a strong Swiss team, losing 4-1. Switzerland took a commanding 4-0 lead before Hubert Yao scored a late goal to reduce the deficit for the Ivorians.
Ivory Coast will next play Mexico, who also lost their first match 2-1 to South Korea.
Qualification Format
The top two teams from each group will automatically advance to the Round of 32. Additionally, the eight best third-placed teams will also qualify, allowing multiple paths to the knockout stages.
"The top two teams in each group automatically advance to the Round of 32, along with the eight best third-placed teams, providing plenty of opportunity for qualification."
Summary: Egypt and Zambia secured impressive wins at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, while Cote d’Ivoire’s loss to Switzerland complicates their path to the knockout stages.