TMG to launch post-AI project and begin Noor city deliveries in 2026    Gold prices in Egypt end 2025's final session lower    From Niche to National Asset: Inside the Egyptian Golf Federation's Institutional Rebirth    Egyptian pound edges lower against dollar in Wednesday's early trade    Oil to end 2025 with sharp losses    Egypt completes 90% of first-phase gas connections for 'Decent Life' initiative    5th-century BC industrial hub, Roman burials discovered in Egypt's West Delta    Saudi Arabia demands UAE withdrawal from Yemen after air strike on 'unauthorised' arms    Egyptian-Italian team uncovers ancient workshops, Roman cemetery in Western Nile Delta    Egypt to cover private healthcare costs under universal insurance scheme, says PM at New Giza University Hospital opening    Qatari Diar pays Egypt $3.5bn initial installment for $29.7bn Alam El Roum investment deal    Egypt to launch 2026-2030 national strategy for 11m people with disabilities    Kremlin demands Ukraine's total withdrawal from Donbas before any ceasefire    The apprentice's ascent: JD Vance's five-point blueprint for 2028    Health Ministry, Veterinarians' Syndicate discuss training, law amendments, veterinary drugs    Egypt completes restoration of 43 historical agreements, 13 maps for Foreign Ministry archive    Egypt, Viatris sign MoU to expand presidential mental health initiative    Egypt sends medical convoy, supplies to Sudan to support healthcare sector    Egypt's PM reviews rollout of second phase of universal health insurance scheme    Egypt sends 15th urgent aid convoy to Gaza in cooperation with Catholic Relief Services    Al-Sisi: Egypt seeks binding Nile agreement with Ethiopia    Egyptian-built dam in Tanzania is model for Nile cooperation, says Foreign Minister    Al-Sisi affirms support for Sudan's sovereignty and calls for accountability over conflict crimes    Egypt flags red lines, urges Sudan unity, civilian protection    Egypt unveils restored colossal statues of King Amenhotep III at Luxor mortuary temple    Egyptian Golf Federation appoints Stuart Clayton as technical director    4th Egyptian Women Summit kicks off with focus on STEM, AI    UNESCO adds Egyptian Koshari to intangible cultural heritage list    Egypt recovers two ancient artefacts from Belgium    Egypt, Saudi nuclear authorities sign MoU to boost cooperation on nuclear safety    Egypt warns of erratic Ethiopian dam operations after sharp swings in Blue Nile flows    Egypt golf team reclaims Arab standing with silver; Omar Hisham Talaat congratulates team    Sisi expands national support fund to include diplomats who died on duty    Egypt's PM reviews efforts to remove Nile River encroachments    Egypt resolves dispute between top African sports bodies ahead of 2027 African Games    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    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.



Egypt held by Botswana in last warm-up for World Cup qualifiers
Hatem Maher Published in Ahram Online on 04 - 06 - 2013

Egypt produce a mediocre display to settle for a 1-1 draw at home to minnows Botswana in their last friendly before facing Zimbabwe and Mozambique in two World Cup qualifying games this month
A lacklustre Egypt side were held to a 1-1 draw by Botswana in Cairo in their last warm-up for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
The Pharaohs fell behind after six minutes when a dreadful blunder by veteran defender Wael Gomaa allowed Jerome Ramatlhakwane to open the scoring but an impressive header by Ahmed Hegazy brought the hosts level seven minutes before the interval.
Fiorentina's central defender Hegazy was making his first appearance for Egypt since rupturing his cruciate knee ligament in December.
Egypt are on top of Group G of the World Cup qualifiers with nine points, five ahead of second-placed Guinea and seven clear of Mozambique with three matches remaining. Zimbabwe lie at the bottom with a solitary point.
The seven-time African champions could secure their place in the final round with two matches to spare if they beat Zimbabwe on Sunday and Guinea fail to overcome Mozambique.
Short back-pass
Egypt were caught off guard after six minutes when Ramatlhakwane intercepted a short back-pass from Gomaa and broke clear. His shot struck the body of keeper Sherif Ekramy and rebounded off him and into the net.
Egypt hardly threatened Botswana in a dull first half, with attacking midfielders Abdallah El-Said, Walid Soliman and Ahmed Elmohamady struggling to feed lone striker Ahmed Hassan Mekki.
In-form forward Mohamed Salah and central midfielder Mohamed El-Neny were rested after helping Basel win the Swiss league for the fourth consecutive season on Saturday.
Veteran playmaker Mohamed Abou-Treika also stayed on the bench.
Egypt's best chance came midway through the first half when a low shot by El-Said went just wide of the post.
They still managed to restore parity on 38 minutes when Hegazy towered to send a superb glancing header past the Botswana keeper following an inch-perfect cross from Elmohamady, who played a key role in helping England's Hull City seal promotion to the English Premier League.
The introduction of the likes of Zamalek frontman Ahmed Gaafar and playmaker Ahmed Eid after the break injected zeal and helped Egypt pour forward en masse.
A low shot by Eid struck the post and an angled effort by Gaafar from inside the area was blocked by the keeper. Botswana were also dangerous on the break, forcing some fine stops from Ekramy.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at@AO Sportsand on Facebook atAhramOnlineSports)
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/73198.aspx

Clic here to read the story from its source.