Egypt returned to Cairo Stadium on Friday, not to play an international game but to be honored after clinching an unprecedented third consecutive African Cup of Nations title. Around 50,000 fans attended a concert held to celebrate Egypt's record-extending seventh title. The players and their coach Hassan Shehata paraded the Nations Cup trophy around the stadium's running track amid enthusiastic cheers and applause from the crowd. Superstar singer Amr Diab took part in the concert, which was held five days after Egypt beat Ghana 1-0 in the tournament's final. "Those are our heroes," Diab, a very popular figure among Egyptian youths, said before beginning the show. "We are all proud of what they've achieved, they fully deserve to be honored by all Egyptian people tonight." Apart from Hossam Ghaly, Egypt's foreign-based players missed the celebrations after returning to their clubs. Egypt next face England in a friendly game at Wembley Stadium on March 3. The Pharaohs will also play EURO 2008 winners Spain few days before the World Cup gets underway in the summer.
