Egypt assistant coach Shawki Gharib said the Pharaohs finally began to have a serious approach to friendly games after thrashing Benin 5-1 on Wednesday. Mohamed Abou-Treika and Emad Meteb scored two goals apiece and Hosni Abd-Rabou converted a penalty to help the African champions brush aside minnows Benin. "My players took the friendly match seriously for the first time in many years," Gharib told Modern Sport after the game. "We turned in a high tempo display and managed to dominate the entire game." But Shawki was unhappy that Egypt slowed down after ensuring the victory. "Unfortunately, the majority of Egyptian players become very lazy whenever they feel that the match will definitely go in their favor. It's a common trait among players here." Soliman Praise Shawki was full of praise for Petrojet midfielder Walid Soliman, who grasped his rare chance with both hands to produce a superb display. "He surprised us by his impressive performance, especially in the first-half," the former Egypt U-20 coach said. "His energetic moves and pacey runs heavily benefited Egypt tonight."
