5 - 11 July 2001
Issue No.541
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 5 - 11 July 2001 Issue No.541 |
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Hanging by a thread
Egypt played but Morocco won. Nashwa Abdel-Tawab reports on the ramifications
Morocco edged closer to winning a place in the 2002 World Cup after a 1-0 win over Egypt in an African qualifying match. The North Africans need only to draw with Senegal in their final match to ensure a fifth appearance in a World Cup finals.
Yet again against Morocco, Egypt played but failed
(photo:AFP)
Egypt needs much more if it wants to go to the World Cup for a third time. It still has a mathematical chance but a slim one. It would have to win its final two matches against Namibia and Algeria and hope that Senegal can beat Morocco in Dakar on 15 July to have any hope of making it to Japan and South Korea. Only the winner in each of the five African zone qualifying groups goes through to the finals.
In Rabat on Saturday, the Egyptians had their work cut out for them. The Atlas Lions prevented the Pharaohs from qualifying to the World Cup twice, standing in their way in 1982 and 1986. In addition, Egypt had never beaten Morocco on its home ground.
Surprisingly, though, Egypt pressed the Moroccans in their own half for much of the first half, defying the critics who were certain the Egyptians would put up a defensive wall and try to score on the counterattack. The tactic worked as the Moroccans failed to build any serious attack on goal.
Still, it was Morocco that grabbed the lead in the 32nd minute when English League star Mustafa Haji fired an unstoppable right-footer from 18 metres after receiving a header from Abdel-Jailil Hada, popularly known as Kamatchou.
It would be almost the only shot on the Egyptian goal but would count for three priceless points.
Its spirits sapped by a goal scored against the run of play, Egypt nevertheless remained composed and argued for a penalty in the dying seconds when Abdel-Sattar Sabri was brought down in the penalty area, but the referee waved play on.
The Pharaohs continued to contain Morocco in the second half and could have at least drawn but Ahmed Salah Hosni's lightning-quick strike rolled just inches wide.
Following the match, the Egyptian Football Federation (EFF) protested to FIFA over Botswana referee Edwin Insa who dished out four yellow cards to Egypt compared to two for Morocco. In its complaint, the EFF brought up the penalty it felt should have been awarded to Egypt. It also claimed that Insa had failed to show yellow cards to Moroccans who it said were guilty of the same offenses Egyptians were. And it claimed that Insa had failed to add enough injury time.
In the other World Cup Group C qualifier, Algeria thumped Namibia 4-0, disappointing the home fans in Windhoek but making little difference in the run for the cup since both teams were already mathematically eliminated.
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