THE PHARAOHS began their preparations for the qualifiers of the 2014 World Cup and the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations with a 2-1 win over Cameroon's local-based squad on Sunday in Sudan. Egypt's one-week camp still has two other friendlies. Bob Bradley's men were scheduled to play in Khartoum against Togo and Senegal on May 22 and 25 respectively. African neighbours Sudan replaced Morocco which apologised for not being able to currently host the Egyptian squad even though Morocco announced they will play a friendly against Senegal on the same day Egypt were supposed to face Senegal. Consequently, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) contacted their Zambian counterparts to replace Senegal in Friday's friendly. Sunderland's winger Ahmed El-Mohamadi broke the deadlock against Cameroon in the 41st minute with a header after an excellent cross from forward Mohamed Salah. In the 75th minute, Ibrahim Salah's handball in the area gave Cameroon a penalty which they converted to level the score. Five minutes later, Mohamed Abu Treika made the difference for the Pharaohs by converting a penalty after right-back Bassem Ali, who replaced El-Mohamadi, was fouled in the area. The Egyptian squad will return to Cairo on May 26 ahead of the 2014 World Cup qualifier against Mozambique on 1 June in Alexandria. Egypt will then visit Guinea in Conakry on 10 June before taking on the Central African Republic in a two-legged ACN qualifier. Elsewhere, Ahli, who are trying to overcome the effect of domestic football stoppage following February's Port Said soccer tragedy in which 75 people were killed, lost 2-0 to Spanish club Espanyol in a friendly in the Spanish city of Barcelona on Friday. The Spaniards dominated Ahli throughout the match. In the 28th minute, a goal from a penalty by striker Walter Pandiani gave Espanyol an early deserved lead. Espanyol forward Romario doubled the score 10 minutes before the end. Espanyol found the net three more times but the goals were ruled offside. Espanyol finished the 2011-2012 La Liga season in 14th place. Title holders Ahli had their season cancelled before the midway point was reached following the Port Said tragedy. Ahli, whose loss to Espanyol was the last game under Portuguese coach Manuel Jose, were drawn with Cairo rivals Zamalek in a tough African Champions League group. The city's top duo face off in Group B, which also includes the mighty TP Mazembe of DR Congo. The first round begins next month, with Ahli hosting two-time champions Mazembe and Zamalek visiting debutantes Chelsea of Ghana on 6-8 July. Zamalek will then entertain Ahli in the second round. Both teams clash again in August.
