New Year's loss
For Egyptian soccer, the year did not end on a winning note
By
Mohamed El-Sayed
Egypt lost 3-2 to French First Division side Lille on New Year's eve in a warm-up for the African Nations Cup starting in January in Tunisia. Mohamed El-Sayed reports
It was the first defeat suffered by the Egyptians during a string of friendlies in the last two months in which they beat Senegal 1-0, South Africa 2-1, Sweden 1-0, Bahrain 1-0, Kenya 1-0 and Iraq 2-0. The victories helped propel Egypt to 32nd in the latest FIFA seedings.
Played in front of thousands of empty seats in Cairo Stadium, the game was excruciatingly slow except for the last quarter which suddenly burst to life. With a line-up of mostly Zamalek and Ismaili players and employing the usual system of 5-3-1, Egyptian coach Mohsen Saleh's goal was to select the final line-up which will play in Tunisia. But with several players missing, due either to injury or club commitments, the selection process was near impossible.
In the first half, the Frenchmen were keen on having a strong presence in midfield in an attempt to impose themselves on the Egyptians. Meanwhile, the Pharaohs tried to switch from defence to the attack as one.
Although the Egyptians had the ball most of the half, they could not translate any of the chances that came their way. Abdel-Halim Ali and Sameh Youssef came face to face with goalkeeper Wimbée Gregory three times but did not do justice to the ball.
Unlike the first half, the second exploded with five goals. The first, scored by the French, was a gem. In the 65th minute, Christopher Landrin received a corner kick with a first-time blast from the right edge of the area which left goalkeeper Abdel-Wahed El-Sayed stranded.
However, the Egyptians pulled themselves back into the game with a 77-minute equaliser from back Amr Fahim.
Justifiably proud of his recent outstanding performance with Zamalek, defender Beshir El-Tabei was perhaps overconfident, costing the Egyptians a penalty in the 80th minute that led to the second goal for the French side via Maussilau M.
As the minutes ticked away, the few supporters in the stadium began shouting insults at the Egyptians.
Again the Egyptians levelled, this time three minutes before the end through yet another penalty scored by Tarek El-Said who then headed towards the bleachers and taunted the spectators with obscene gestures in reaction to their own verbal abuse.
The game looked headed for a satisfactory tie when the French, who lie in 14th place in their league, capitalised on yet another fatal mistake by El-Tabei who was caught napping when the ball reached unmarked Makaun J who netted the winner for the visitors.
After the match Saleh threatened to drop any player who fails to follow instructions. "There was a prevailing feeling among the players that they were facing a weak team," said Saleh. "Those who provoked the Egyptian supporters will be punished and might not play in the ANC .
"Those who played against Lille are those who have played the least recently. Many of them will not play in the ANC because they did not seize the opportunity I gave them."
Saleh conceded he never wanted to play Lille because many of Egypt's key players were missing. However, he was forced to play in accordance with the agreement signed between the Egyptian Football Association and the sponsor company.
Asked about a reported psychologist he plans to add to the coaching staff, Saleh said "a highly professional psychologist will begin readying the Egyptians by presenting them with a series of lectures until they go to Tunisia."
Egypt's remaining warm-ups are with Rwanda today in Port Said, the Congo on 12 January and Burkina Faso on 16 January.
The Pharaohs will launch their campaign in the ANC against Zimbabwe on 25 January in Sfax Stadium. Four days later, they meet Algeria in Sousse, then the defending champions Cameroon on 3 March in Al-Minstir Stadium.
