Cairo - A minute's silence will be observed before Friday's Egypt v DR Congo African Nations Cup soccer quarter-final in memory of the victims of the Red Sea ferry sinking, an Egypt team spokeswoman said.

The ferry carrying nearly 1,300 mainly Egyptian passengers sank overnight on a trip from Saudi Arabia to Egypt and about 1 000 people are still missing.

The tribute at Cairo's International Stadium packed with nearly 80 000 fans will be held after the national anthems of the two countries, the spokesperson said.