CAIRO - Bob Bradley, the technical coach of Egypt's senior football team, expressed his optimism that the national team could achieve victory over Mozambique at the 2014 World Cup qualifiers in June, in spite of the difficult circumstances affecting the team, Egypt's official Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported. "The difficult circumstances Egypt is experiencing will motivate the players to exert their utmost," Bradley said, explaining that the Sudan training camp was very productive. The purpose of the Sudan camp, which was part of the Pharaohs camps abroad, was to get ready for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers and the 2013 African Cup of Nations qualifiers in June. The senior Egyptian team will start their 2014 World Cup qualifiers on June 1 by hosting Mozambique. On June 8, they will play their second group game against Guinea away from home before facing Central Africa in the ACN qualifiers mid-June. Egypt has been drawn in Group G, alongside Guinea, Zimbabwe and Mozambique for the World Cup qualifiers."The Sudan camp was helpful, we achieved some gains, and the coaching staff decided on the players who will represent the Pharaohs at the ACN and 2014 World Cup qualifiers," MENA quoted Bradley as saying. Sudan hosting the Pharaohs' training camp after Morocco cancelled in the last minute rescued the team prior to the 2013 ACN qualifiers and the 2014 World Cup qualifiers in June. Last month, the Egyptian senior team held a preparation camp also in Sudan, where they played two friendlies against Uganda and Chad. Bradley described that four-day camp as useful, adding that the Pharaohs were improving. They stunned Chad with 4-0, thanks to a goal from Mohamed Salah in the 30th minute, a powerful Ahmed Khairi header in the 44th minute and a strike by Ahmed Hassan Mekki on 90 minutes; Chad defender Hassan Hussein also helped the Egyptian cause with an own goal in the 88th minute. Prior to this, the Pharaohs defeated Uganda 2-1, thanks to goals from Olympic player Mohamed Salah and Ahly playmaker Abou-Treika. Now the coaching staff's main task is to take Egypt to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil; that would be Egypt's third-ever appearance and the first in 24 years. "I am trying to build a strong team and create harmony amongst the new and experienced players," Bradley told reporters after the Sudan camp. Bradley urged the security authorities to give the go-ahead for the Malawi friendly on May 27 at Borg el-Arab Stadium. "The Malawi game will be the last friendly for the team ahead of the official Mozambique match in June," the tactician said. The Egyptian senior team was supposed to play Malawi during the Sudan preparation camp, but it was cancelled for unknown reasons. Tomorrow the Pharaohs started a preparation camp in the coastal city of Alexandria to last until the Mozambique game on June 1 at the Borg el-Arab Stadium for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers. Bradley took over as US coach in 2007 after he was taken on as interim coach when the Americans struggled in the 2006 World Cup in Germany. He guided the US team through the qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but they lost to Ghana in the second round after drawing with England in the group stage. Bradley, who replaced long-time coach Hassan Shehata, added that the most important thing about the Sudan camp was the spirit and desire shown by the new players wanting to prove themselves. The Sudan camp, which ended on Wednesday, witnessed the Pharaohs playing two games. They defeated Cameroon (with local players) 2-1 and stunned Togo's national team 3-0. The coaching staff added five professional players to the camp ahead of the Mozambique match. They are Mohamed Zidan, Hosni Abd Rabou, Ahmed el-Mohamadi, Mohamed Dodi el-Gabbas and Adam el-Abad. Bradley also chose Ahly midfielder Mohamed Shawqi to join the line up for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers and the 2013 African Cup of Nations qualifiers instead of his teammate Hossam Ashour, who was knocked out due to an injury.
