Despite giving away four goals to the Sierra Leonean side at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, the three-time African champions still lead Group L with seven points, one ahead of Benin.
Coach Gernot Rohr is using the friendlies to put his team in good shape for the forthcoming AFCON and World Cup qualifiers and to also see what the new boys will bring to his team.
The stadium and ancillary facilities (swimming pool and Olympic city, hotel …) cost 218 million euros, according to Ivorian authorities, with counterpart funding from China, which has a strong economic presence in the West African country.
Egypt was allowed to keep the trophy on a permanent basis — with a new cup made — after the dominant run of the “Pharaohs”, as the national team is known, winning three titles in a row, in 2006, 2008 and 2010.
Former Egyptian Football Association (EFA) Vice-president and current ONTime Sports broadcaster, Ahmed Shobir, confirmed the Africa Cup of Nations trophy disappeared from the headquarters of the EFA.