Beaumelle is also still without a win or draw after two games in charge and in the process stretching Zambia’s winless streak to six games since beating Botswana 2-0 on August, 3 in a 2014 CHAN qualifier in Ndola.
Zambia’s best results in this period has been a 1-1 away friendly draw against Senegal in Paris and a scoreless result with Zimbabwe in a CHAN second round, first leg tie in Harare. And on Thursday, Zambia head into their 22nd meeting against Egypt without a win over The Pharaohs since January, 1996 whom they defeated 3-1 in an Africa Cup quarterfinal game in Bloemfontein.
Since then, Egypt has won five of their subsequent seven meetings to edge closer to the six victories Zambia has recorded against the seven-time African champions.
However, Beaumelle said he is hopeful his side can put up a positive show in Cairo.
“This game against Egypt is a good mix with new faces so we will be ready for the battle,” Beaumelle said.
The match will mark the return to the fold of TP Mazembe duo of defender Stopilla Sunzu and midfielder Nathan Sinkala after missing the October 15 Brazil friendly due to a club-versus-country row.
However, their club mate midfielder Rainford Kalaba has been overlooked due to disciplinary reasons by the Frenchman.
And Zambia will also be without the teams’ top scorer on four goals this year, Jacob Mulenga, after the FC Utrecht striker sustained an injury in Dutch league action last Saturday.
His absence could give young Nkana striker and the Zambia league top scorer on 15 goals Reynold Kampamba a chance to try and impress again after failing to find the target in the November 6 friendly away to Jordan that Zambia lost 1-0.
Meanwhile, Egypt are using the friendly as warm-up for their November 19 decider against Ghana in a 2014 FIFA World Cup return leg play-off in which The Pharaohs are trailing 6-1 from the first leg.
