Nothing to write home about

A big question mark hangs over their performance as Egyptian footballers prepare for the African Nations Cup. Nashwa Abdel-Tawab reports on a less than impressive trial
Preparations for the African Nations Cup (ANC) kicked off with outward smiles and shaky insides. In training, Egyptian players put on a brave face for the cameras while acknowledging in private the daunting task ahead.
Egypt is trying to erase the bitter and still fresh memories of not having qualified for next year's World Cup. The ANC, beginning in Mali on 19 January, would provide some solace -- that is, if it wins. Egypt was handed a tough draw in the championship after being placed in Group D along with World Cup qualifiers Senegal and Tunisia and African Cup under-achievers but still dangerous Zambia. Only the first two teams from each of the four groups advance to the second round, a format that could conceivably result in Egypt being left behind in the preliminaries.
Along with Ghana, Egypt has won the ANC a record-tying four times. It last lifted the trophy in the 1998 finals in Burkina Faso and was bundled out of the 2000 event by Tunisia in the quarter-final. El-Gohari's contract runs out following the final whistle in Mali and his immediate future with the team apparently depends primarily on how far his players progress in the west African nation.
"The 16 nations are great and they make our mission difficult," El- Gohari said in the final training session in Egypt before flying to Qatar for the first of five friendlies. "The matches will be tough and the road to the final will be tougher. We hope for the best."
Judging from the 2-2 draw in Doha on Sunday, El-Gohari's prediction of a tough ANC championship will certainly materialise -- and not just because of the competition. The performance of the Egyptians themselves, as amply demonstrated in Doha, needs much honing and refining. The team had to come from 2-0 down in the second half before tying with a side that also failed to make it to the World Cup.
Qatar took the lead in the first half through Yasser Nazmi's goal in the 29th minute. Up to then, Egypt ruled the field but Qatar was content to let the Egyptians have their way as long as they contained them in midfield. Nazmi's goal came when an Egyptian wall of defenders collapsed during a direct kick. Qatar could have led by two before the half had its penalty shot not hit the right post.
In the event, Qatar did take a 2-0 lead in the 60th minute when Jaffel Rashed's low blazer from outside the box found the left goalmouth.
The goal was a wake-up call for Egypt which had up to then played with confusion and little strategy. Ahmed Hossam soared higher than anyone with a header in the 70th minute and Khaled Bebo outwitted three defenders to level the score in the 78th minute.
Egypt still has some time, but probably not enough, to smooth over many rough edges with four other friendlies: against Ghana, tomorrow in Ismailia, Mali, Nigeria and Burkina Faso respectively from 4 to 11 January. It was scheduled to cap its preparations with a match against Algeria but the event was called off after both sides failed to agree on a venue.
Zamalek midfielder Hazim Imam, who has helped guide Zamalek to the top of the table half-way through the league season, has been recalled by El-Gohari. Another comeback has been made by the Hassan twins, Hossam and Ibrahim. Absent from the international scene since February when they announced their retirement after coming under fire from the local press, the 35-year-old brothers will probably be playing in their last ANC.
El-Gohari also welcomed the return of Germany's Hansa Rostock midfielder Yasser Radwan who missed the country's World Cup campaign due to injury.
The coach dropped midfielder Abdel-Sattar Sabri who has also fallen out of favour with his Portuguese club Benfica which has put him high on the list of transfers.
The new list features Bebo, Ahli's latest hero, whose hat trick in the African Champions League final against South Africa's Sundowns last month earned his club its third title in the tournament after 14 years.
Newcomers also include Zamalek's left side duo of Tarek El- Sayed and Mohamed Abul-Ela, along with Ahli defender Wael Gomaa.
Egypt's players for ANC matches:
Goalkeepers
Essam El-Hadari (Ahli), Nader El- Sayed (Goldi), Mohamed Abdel- Monsef (Zamalek).
Defenders
Ibrahim Said, Wael Gomaa (Ahli), Amr Fahim, Islam El-Shatter (Ismaili), Ibrahim Hassan, Tarek El-Sayed (Zamalek), Hani Ramzi (Kaiserslautern), Hani Said (Bari), Abdel-Zaher El-Saqqa (Borsaspor), Mohamed Omara (Hansa Rostock).
Midfielders
Yasser Radwan (Hansa Rostock), Tarek El-Said (Anderlecht), Mohamed Barakat (Ismaili), Hazim Imam, Gamal Hamza and Mohamed Abul-Ela (Zamalek).
Strikers
Hossam Hassan (Zamalek), Ahmed Salah (Gent), Ahmed Hossam (Ajax), Mohamed El-Yamani (Standard Liege), Khaled Bebo (Ahli).
Recommend this page
© Copyright Al-Ahram Weekly. All rights reserved
Send a letter to the Editor