Afcon 2021: Egypt coach Carlos Queiroz says his team will work on finishing skills

Egypt have one the world's leading strikers in Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, yet the Pharaohs scored just twice in their three Group D matches at Africa Cup of Nations to reach the last 16.

It is a fact not lost on their Mozambique-born Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz.

«Look I promise you starting from tomorrow they are going to be doing finishing exercises from the morning until the afternoon,» he quipped to BBC Sport Africa after their 1-0 win over Sudan on Wednesday.

«Despite all the pressure they come back (from losing to Nigeria in their opening game). They play strong, they play good football.

»They just need to score more goals. To only play good football is not enough — we need to build up more goals and with that be more relaxed in the game."

Salah scored the winner against Guinea-Bissau in the Pharaohs' second game at the Nations Cup and had chances to add to his tally against Sudan, but it was defender Mohamed Abdelmonem who scored the only goal to secure Egypt's place in the knock-out stages.

Former South Africa, Real Madrid, Portugal and Iran coach Queiroz felt the game should have been over by half-time.

«We complicate our lives because in a game like this (against Sudan) the profile of the game is 'kick the ball forward, kick the ball forward',» the 68-year-old explained.

«We always have intention to score and it only takes one small mistake, one rebound, and something can happen. If we score three goals, as we should have in the first half, at least then the game was finished.»

Egypt had hit the woodwork three times in their win over Guinea-Bissau and former West Bromwich Albion defender Ahmed Hegazi said his team need a little more luck in front of goal.

«It's (finishing) not a weakness. It's very good we have so