Egypt start their 2010 World Cup campaign by taking on Zambia. Inas Mazhar reports on Egypt's chances African champions Egypt will face Zambia in Group C in the final phase of the World Cup qualifications which begins this weekend. The final stage, ending in November, will determine which five African countries join the hosts at next year's finals in South Africa. Zambia in the first of the qualifiers to be played at Cairo Stadium on Sunday. Algeria and Rwanda complete Group C with the winners securing a place at the first World Cup staged by Africa, while the top three finishers go through to the 2010 CAF Africa Cup of Nations in Angola earlier that year. Egyptians are ranked as the favourites of this group, and are determined to make an impressive start to their campaign. "The first match in every competition is usually the most important for any team; whether it is against a stronger or a weaker team, it doesn't matter. It's the victory and the three points that matter for us," said Egypt head coach Hassan Shehata. "We know everything about our opponent and we know how many professional players they have. Nine players were among the team which was placed third in the African Nations Championships in Cote d'Ivoire. They have a new coach, a Frenchman who replaced Patrik Phiri whom we played against in Ghana. But we'll be prepared even though African teams have changed and you can expect any surprises from any team," Shehata said The past week has shown the Pharaohs are really set to make it to the finals in South Africa in June 2010. They started preparations for the game earlier than usual. "Experience has proven that long-term training camps preceding crucial games are more effective for Egyptians. It gives the players enough time to get acquainted with each other and get into national team form. It used to be this way when El-Gohari was coach. Practicing only four days before a match is not enough." said EFA media director Medhat Shalabi. After announcing the names of the 24-man team, the delegation travelled for a closed training camp in Alexandria. The Pharaohs started their training camp on Monday and will be training twice a day at the stadium of the Arab Maritime Academy. "The media are welcome to attend the matches, but no interviews are allowed. Shehata has allocated only one hour for the media to for interviews on Wednesday noon. After that, they will not even be allowed to watch the training," said Shalabi. Egypt's history in the World Cup qualifications proves, at least on one occasion, that the team that beats Egypt on home soil qualifies for the World Cup. Egypt lost to Cote d'Ivoire 2-1 in Alexandria and it was the Ivorians who made it to Germany in that tournament. The Egyptian line-up will include: Goalkeepers: Essam El-Hadari, Abdel-Wahed El-Sayed, El-Hani Suleiman, Mohamed Sobhi. Defenders: Hani Said, Wa'el Gomaa, Mahmoud Fathallah, Ahmed Said, Ahmed El-Sayed, Ahmed Samir Farag, Mohsen Hendawi, Ahmed El-Mohamedi, Ahmed Fathi. Midfielders: Hosni Abdrabou, Mohamed Shawki, Ahmed Hassan, Ahmed Khairi, Mohamed Abu Treika, Mohamed Barakat. Forwards: Emad Meteb, Ahmed Hossam, Ahmed Abdel-Malek, Amr Zaki, Mohamed Zidan. The list sees the return of Mohamed Barakat to the national team. The last participation for Barakat was in 2006 when he led the national team to its fifth Nations Cup title in the tournament that took place in Egypt. Mohamed Zidan also returns, having been away since February 2008 when Egypt claimed its second crown in Ghana earlier this year. The players were away because of disputes with Shehata though the diplomatic statements say the opposite. Zambia coach Herve Renard was quoted on FIFA online as saying that he believes that his side has the same chance as Egypt in terms of qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The official website of the world's governing body puts Egypt, victors at the last two editions of the Cup of Nations, as the team which boast the strongest squad, an outstanding coach, a formidable home record and the highest ranking among the quartet. But fresh from a third-place finish in the African Nations Championship, a new tournament restricted to local-based footballers, Renard says Zambians are entitled to dream of a first FIFA World Cup appearance. "Powerful teams like Cameroon and Nigeria cannot defeat Egypt in Cairo so what chance does a smaller team like ours winning there?" the 39-year-old Frenchman asked. "However, we will always have the confidence that can cause an upset. Nothing is impossible in football. We have the same chance of reaching the World Cup as Algeria, Rwanda and even Egypt. "We are not naive and know Egypt are considered group favourites because they are African champions, but we have to believe. I wanted to avoid Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire and my wish has been granted. Zambia have a good squad and great team spirit and I also know that we can improve as the qualifying competition progresses," said the Frenchman who came to Lusaka after assisting compatriot Claude Le Roy in Ghana. If a match against the African kings at their 70,000- capacity Cairo Stadium fortress is a daunting start, Renard draws comfort from home fixtures against Rwanda and Algeria during June. "Of course it is a tough first game for us, but if Zambia manage to get a result we can take that momentum back home and really begin to promote our push to the top. While our supporters are dreaming of South Africa they must realise it will be difficult because there are no easy games. But we can succeed with adequate preparations," insisted Renard. The steady improvement of a national team nicknamed Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets) under the Frenchman since he took over last year has won approval from West Africa with Senegal and Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas showing interest. "I have received contacts from Senegal and ASEC, but it is important to understand that these are not contracts," Renard said. "For now I coach Zambia because that is where I have a contract."
