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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 9 -15 November 2000 Issue No.507 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 9 -15 November 2000 Issue No.507
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Books Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Anything but the real thing
There were no clear heads and plenty of leaden feet. Still, an outfit of misfit teenagers managed to compose themselves long enough to scramble their way into the African Nations Football Cup.
The under-20-year-olds, playing nothing nearly resembling football throughout most of the game, simulated professionalism at the end in a penalty shoot-out against Zambia following a goalless draw to book their ticket to Ethiopia, where the championship will be played in March. It was the second-leg of their encounter. The first ended 0-0 in Lusaka.
The team lacked everything imaginable: imagination, cohesion, tactics, discipline and fitness. The only thing that helped matters was an opponent in even greater disarray.
Playing in Cairo Stadium, whose cavernous environs made the already minuscule crowd of spectators look even tinier, both teams played the dullest of first half with no serious attempt at goal. The only action could be seen on the sidelines with head coach Shawqi Gharib incessantly barking orders to his young chargers to attack.
The second half picked up somewhat as the guests woke up from their stupor. Against the run of play, in the 59th minute, Egypt could have taken the lead but a penalty kick, awarded after striker Ahmed Hossam was tackled in the area, went begging. Mohamed Mahrous shot the ball straight at the left post. The rebound ricocheted off Mahrous and plopped in. The goal was cancelled courtesy of FIFA's new rule which says the ball must be shot by another player other than the penalty kicker if it is to be adjudged a goal by the referee.
No goals in regulation time meant penalties and Zambia obliged by promptly losing three of the spot kicks, two to the crossbar and one to goalkeeper Wael Zinga. Egypt scored three consecutive goals to scrape by 3-1.
Despite the win, Gharib left the pitch in tears, telling the Weekly he was angry his players failed to follow instructions. "I don't know what happened to them. They played carelessly and individually and that's why they committed so many mistakes. We could have lost the game but for our defence."
The loss prevented Zambia from entering one more time in the African championship after having participated in 1997 and 1999. They will also miss out on the juniors World Cup. The first four nations in the 2001 African Nations Cup will qualify for the World Cup in July in Argentina.
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