Egypt's FM highlights 'soft power' in Mali meeting with alumni    Egypt's foreign minister opens business forum in Niger, targets new partnerships    Egypt's FM delivers Al-Sisi message to Niger's leader, seeks deeper security ties    Rafah Crossing 'never been closed for one day' from Egypt: PM    Egypt will keep pushing for Gaza peace, aid: PM    Remittances from Egyptians abroad surge 70% YoY in July–May: CBE    Sudan's ambassador to Egypt holds reconstruction talks on with Arab League    Egypt's current account gap narrows, but overall BoP records deficit    Al-Sisi urges accelerated oil, gas discoveries, lower import bill    SCZONE signs $52.6m textile industry deals during China investment tour    Egypt hosts international neurosurgery conference to drive medical innovation    Egypt's EDA discusses Johnson & Johnson's plans to expand investment in local pharmaceutical sector    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi calls for boosting oil & gas investment to ease import burden    EGX to close Thursday for July 23 Revolution holiday    Egypt, Senegal sign pharma MoU to unify regulatory standards    Egyptian Drug Authority discusses plans for joint pharmaceutical plant in Zambia    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt foils terrorist plot, kills two militants linked to Hasm group    Giza Pyramids' interior lighting updated with new LED system    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



World Cup fever yet to strike fans as Egypt open qualifying campaign
The hype that usually accompanies Egypt World Cup campaigns is nowhere to be seen as the Pharaohs open their qualifying bid against Mozambique on Friday
Published in Ahram Online on 01 - 06 - 2012

The build-up to Egypt's World Cup qualifying campaigns has always been accompanied by intense media speculation as to whether the team will finally end its lengthy drought stretching back to 1990.
It is the other way round this time as Egypt open their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign on Friday.
The presidential elections frenzy has overshadowed everything else, including the Pharaohs' game at home against Mozambique in the Group G opener on Friday in Alexandria.
The Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsi and former prime minister Ahmed Shafiq are vying to become the first post-Mubarak president in the election runoff on 16 and 17 June.
Egypt missed out on a place at the 2010 World Cup in heartbreaking fashion following a 1-0 defeat by North African rivals Algeria in a playoff in Sudan, a loss which was followed by a diplomatic rift between the two countries.
Football-related topics had the lion's share of the Egyptians' daily discussions over the subsequent months but since the eruption of the January 2011 uprising football has been on the back foot, giving the edge to politics.
“Unfortunately we play this game in difficult circumstances,” Egypt coach Bob Bradley said this weekin an interview with the Confederation of African Football's website.
“I have asked [the players] to forget about the political situation and focus on the match. I asked them to win and bring happiness to Egyptians.
“They are dreaming of World Cup qualification and we have to make their dreams true. We're going to miss our fans in this game, but we promise to do our best to make them happy.”
Lack of action
On paper, Egypt seem firm favourites to overcome Mozambique, but lack of competitive domestic action may take its toll on the seven-time African Champions.
February's infamous Port Said disaster forced a suspension of all football activities in Egypt and led to the cancellation of the Premier League, leaving Bradley struggling to prepare his side for the Mozambique game.
Egypt, who must finish as the group leaders to advance to the final round, will face Guinea in their next group game on 10 June.
They have played 12 friendly games since Bradley took over last year following the departure of highly-successful coach Hassan Shehata, in which the American boss experimented with many new faces as he sought to inject fresh blood into a somewhat ageing team.
Egypt won nine games, drew twice and lost one - a 2-0 defeat by five-time world champions Brazil in the Qatari capital Doha.
“It's going to be a tough game. The first match is always difficult, especially in the World Cup qualifiers,” Bradley said of the Mozambique match.
“Winning this game is the key for other victories to come, so it's a must win game for Egypt.
“We played some friendly games but we were forced to hold them outside Egypt for security reasons. The local football league has stopped so I opted to call Ahly, Zamalek and ENPPI players as they have been playing with their clubs in CAF interclub competitions.
“I also recalled some of the U-23 team players for this match as they are physically fit after playing many games in prepation for the London 2012 Olympic Games.”
Egypt will play behind closed doors at Borg El-Arab Stadium in Alexandria due to security concerns. The interior ministry has refused to secure any match since the Port Said tragedy, setting 10 conditions that should be fulfilled by clubs if it is to allow spectators to attend games.
Bradley has left out Zamalek's star duo Amr Zaki and Mahmoud Abdel-Razek ‘Shikabala'. Striker Zaki is suffering from fitness problems while Shikabala was overlooked following his touchline row with Zamalek coach Hassan Shehata during an African Champions League game earlier this month.
English-born defender Adam El-Abd, who made his Egypt debut in a 2-1 friendly defeat by Cameroon, is also out as he is yet to obtain an Egyptian passport.
Skipper Ahmed Hassan, the world's most capped player, is doubtful after picking up a groin injury, so is Mainz forward Mohamed Zidan due to an intestinal catarrh.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter:@AO Sports)
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/43319.aspx


Clic here to read the story from its source.