The young Pharaohs made it four African U-20 titles on Saturday after beating the Black Satellites of Ghana 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out played at the Ahmed Zabana Stadium in Oran, Algeria. The two sides had settled for a 1-1 draw over 90 minutes and into extra time. The win allowed Egypt to represent Africa in the U-20 World Cup which will be played in Turkey in June. Joining Egypt in Group E will be Chile, England and Iraq. The team's previous crowns were won in 1981, 1991 and 2003. Egypt is currently two titles behind record holders Nigeria with six. Nigeria, previous title holders, made up for being unable to retain their crown by beating Mali 2-1 to finish with the bronze. The tremendously talented Saleh Gomaa was voted as the tournament's best player after guiding his team to the trophy thanks to his two goals, two assists and dazzling performances from start to finish in the tournament. The team was welcomed warmly by officials and fans and folklore music and dance after returning victorious. “This victory is coming at the right time to make up for the depression the whole people of Egypt are suffering from due to the unstable economic and political situation,” Hossam Hassan, the former Egyptian super star, said, referring to Egypt's shaky political transition following the uprising that toppled the government more than two years ago. “People need to feel happy and celebrate and thus came the opportunity to do so.” The players were promised huge bonuses as Egyptian President Morsi sent the team congratulation for the “great victory”. “You were up to the challenge and you have raised Egypt's name high in international events,” Morsi, who became president in June last year, said. The young Pharaohs were the top front page story in almost all the morning newspapers in Chile as their team will be meeting the Pharaohs in their first match in the World Cup Group E opening match on 23 June. The first four in the U-20 African championship all made it to Turkey. Ghana who finished second in the tournament, will join France, the US and Spain in Group A. The Eagles of Nigeria who finished third were drawn into Group B along with Cuba, the Korea Republic and Portugal, while Mali, who finished fourth, will compete against Mexico, Greece and Paraguay in Group D play. The FIFA U-20 World Cup Turkey 2013 will take place from 21 June to 13 July in the seven host cities Antalya, Bursa, Gaziantep, Istanbul, Kayseri, Rize and Trabzon. Egypt went into the match as favourites after notching four straight wins including an opening 2-1 victory over the same opponents, Ghana two weeks earlier. Indeed, Egypt opened the scoring only four minutes after the start through midfielder Saleh Gomaa. Three minutes later, though, Ghana's Jeremiah Arkoful scored the equaliser. Both teams remained on guard for the rest of the 90-minute match, then lost hope in being able to score a winner to end the match 1-1and resort to extra time. Extra time could not separate the sides and it was left to a penalty shoot-out to decide the winner. Penalties from Saleh Gomaa, Ahmed Samir, Ahmed Al-Sayed, Mahmoud Monem and Hossam Mohamed gave Egypt the 5-4 shootout victory. The Ghanaians scored through Richmond Nketiah, Jeremiah Arkorful, Lawrence Lartey and Ebenezer Ofori while Attama Joseph and Michael Anaba missed. Rami Rabea , Egypt's rising star, missed one penalty. “I was nervous and tired and that's why I missed. I took the first penalty because l wanted to motivate and encourage my teammates but l missed.” “It was a good display of football and wonderful advertisement of African football by both sides and I congratulate coach Yassin and his team for victory tonight,” Ghana's coach Sellas Tetteh told cafonline following the match. “My boys played well tonight and did their best but destiny called it otherwise and we have to take it as such. When a match goes to penalties anything is possible and l will not put any blame or find fault with anyone. Last time we won the match on penalties to reach the final and today we lost on penalties. There is nothing to mourn or complain about. That's football.” Coach Rabea Yassin, who played for Egypt in the FIFA 1990 World Cup as a defender, said, “I am very pleased with my players who played some lovely football throughout this tournament and deserved to win the cup. I have been working with the team for four and a half years and know them very well on and off the field. We have worked hard and trained for long hours. It is fantastic to get the results we got. Ghana were worthy competitors and as you saw, the two sides could only be separated by penalties, which shows it was a tough game. With a great team like Ghana words of revenge or such nonsense was silly.” Before the game, Tetteh vehemently denied reports that the Black Satellites were seeking revenge. “It worried me when I heard such talk about being motivated by revenge, and wanting to get back at Egypt for that loss in the first game. That match is in the past and our approach to the final is not based on a need to even things or any such intention. We are in a final and will play to win, regardless of what has happened before.” As to Egypt's chances in the World Cup, Yassin said, “It is a tough group of course especially during such a time and what Egyptian football is facing but I think we will be able to challenge the circumstances and do the impossible as we did in the African Nations Cup. We have to start preparing from now through international camps to get ready as time is tight.” Team captain Rabea expressed delight at winning the cup. “It was a tough game but we were up to the challenge. I felt that we were playing as one and had only one target in front of us: to win the trophy. The World Cup will not be easy but I think we can still do something.” CAF has released the names of the Best 11 and title awards: Orange Man of the Tournament: Saleh Gomaa (EGYPT) Samsung Fair Player: Francis Narh (GHANA) Pepsi Top Goal Scorer: Aminu Umar (NIGERIA) Fair Play Team of the tournament (GHANA) BEST 11 Mossad AWAD - Egypt GK Ahmed SAMIR- Egypt , Boubacar DIARRA - Mali , Rami RABIA –Egypt, Lawrence LARTEY- Ghana, Abduljaleel AJAGUN – Nigeria, Derrick MENSAH- Ghana, Saleh GOMAA – Egypt, Mahmoud KAHRABA-Egypt, Ferhat ZINEDINE –Algeria, Ebenezer ASSIFUAH- Ghana SUBSTITUTES Antwi OFORI – Ghana GK, Tiekoro KEITA –Mali -Francis NARH- Ghana, Didier NDONG – Gabon, Emomo NGOY- DR Congo, Goyi ALIYU- Nigeria, David DJIGLA-Benin, Hossam MOHAMED- Egypt
