 |
Al-Ahram Weekly 21 - 27 October 1999 Issue No. 452 
|
||
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
| ||
|
Al-Ahram Weekly 21 - 27 October 1999 Issue No. 452
|
||
| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
| ||
Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Profile Travel Living Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters To Sydney, we hope
By Abeer AnwarIn its first match in African qualifications for the Sydney Olympics, Egypt lost 1-0 in a first-leg encounter in Morocco. The loss, though not the best way to begin the campaign, may not necessarily deflate spirits. Egypt played well enough, especially toward the end, and will have a chance for revenge when it meets Morocco again in Cairo next February. The second result will have to be different if Egypt is to keep up with the rest of the group, which includes Tunisia and Côte d'Ivoire, certainly the toughest on the continent. The problem is exacerbated since only the team that finishes atop the group will go on to the Olympics.
From the outset, Egypt had problems in the host country. No one from the Egyptian Embassy bothered to welcome the team at the airport whereas such gestures are standard procedure. The players were then dropped off in what they claimed was a hotel far below the minimum standards FIFA stipulates and whose meals were reported to be inedible. The grounds of the stadium specified for their training were also said to be in poor condition. Following lengthy negotiations, both the hotel and the stadium were changed.
Egypt went to Morocco knowing little about the opposition other than what it had seen on a video tape of Morocco's recent friendly against France. Knowing about the team, however, apparently did not help Egypt much. Predictably, Morocco began the match on the offensive in the hopes of scoring early. Egypt defended and continued doing so until the second half when Morocco scored what proved to be the winner. Striker Hisham Zerwani sealed Egypt's fate in the 71st minute when he powered home a brilliant right-footed drive following a high cross. The ball never hit the ground as Zerwani, a threat all day, met it with full force. The ball winged its way to the top left corner past a frozen Abdel-Wahad El-Sayed.
Algerian referee Karim Daho certainly didn't help matters when he turned a blind eye to two clear penalties for Egypt, including a tackle from behind on Tarek El-Sayed who was clearly inside the box at the time of the infraction. Egypt lost a couple of good scoring opportunities when it finally broke out of its defensive shell but it boiled down to a situation of too little, too late.
"The players did not follow the game plan nor the coach's instructions," Adli El-Qai, head of the Egyptian delegation, said. "They were very slow during many intervals and this definitely led to our loss."
