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Al-Ahram Weekly 22 - 28 June 2000 Issue No. 487 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 22 - 28 June 2000 Issue No. 487
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Focus Opinion Culture Features Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Last of the dress rehearsals
By Nashwa Abdel-Tawab
Ready or not, cold or hot, Egypt is about to take its first step to the World Cup against an adversary who has already notched up a valuable away point.
Final preparations included a four-team championship in Iran in which Egypt defeated the hosts but lost to South Korea in the final. That was followed by last week's 2-0 win over Ghana in Cairo, the last of the friendlies before Egypt meets Senegal on 9 July in Dakar, its first World Cup qualifying game.
The Egyptians had the better of the match against Ghana, but overpowering they were not. That does not bode well since six Ghanaians were under 17.
Striker Walid Abdel-Latif put Egypt ahead with a header in the ninth minute. Playing a rare attacking game in the first half, Egypt could have easily added a few more goals had its marksmen been sharper. A slew of substitutions in the second half abruptly ended the chemistry the Egyptians had been displaying. German-based striker Ahmed Salah Hosni headed Egypt's second goal late in the game, sealing a victory which left several questions about Egypt's reserves unanswered.aas
"I replaced five seniors with five juniors in the second half," said coach Mahmoud El-Gohari. "They didn't do as well because of their inexperience."
In all, this was Egypt's fifth warm-up match leading to the World Cup qualifications, winning four and losing one.
"It was a beneficial match for the team and for me," said El-Gohari who decides on the final line-up on Saturday. "Unfortunately, most of the players were exhausted," he said, referring to the recent championship in Tehran.
"We need a team with a solid defence, quick midfielders and strong attackers," El-Gohari said of the match with Senegal. "We're all ready for this tough and decisive period and after the match with Ghana and the Iran tournament I can assure Egyptian fans that winning the African Nations Cup in 1998 was no accident," he added.
El-Gohari hoped the results of first round matches in Group C, in which Egypt plays and which is arguably the toughest of the five mini-leagues, would be to the country's advantage.
Morocco tied 0-0 in Namibia and Senegal drew 1-1 in Algeria, affording Egypt the opportunity to leapfrog into first place should it beat Senegal.
In Group C, Omar Diop put visiting Senegal ahead in the 16th minute but Rafik Saifi converted a penalty kick in the 26th minute. Algeria missed another penalty kick in the 82nd.
Namibia was worthy of a better result than a 0-0 draw with Morocco in the same group match in Windhoek at Independence Stadium. Germany-based midfielder Razundara Tjikuzu was outstanding as the Brave Warriors took the fight to their more illustrious opponents and created the better chances in each half.
Perhaps 1998 World Cup finalist Morocco underestimated Namibia, which lies 61 places below it on the international rankings. Morocco left out Coventry City midfield pair Mustafa Hadji and Youssef Chippo.
Captain Noureddine Naybet was also absent due to an injury picked up in a 5-1 drubbing at home to world champion France this month in the final of the King Hassan II tournament.
The result left Namibia, Morocco, Algeria and Senegal all level with one point after the opening pool games.
In Group B, Nigeria beat visiting Sierra Leone 2-0, Madagascar beat the Republic of Congo 3-0 in Group D and Burkina Faso played a 1-1 tie in Malawi in Group E.
