Meet the president
PRESIDENT Hosni Mubarak received Egypt's football team the day after they won the African Cup of Nations, announcing that the players will be awarded LE3 million in prize money.
Mubarak, who attended the opening and closing matches of the tournament, thanked the team for its performance, saying the victory had "raised the spirits of all Egyptians" especially in the wake of the Egyptian ferry disaster in which 1,000 people died.
At the presidential palace on Saturday, Mubarak talked to each player individually and discussed with him the matches played. He asked them to "continue succeeding and to do their best to better the image of Egyptian football throughout the world."
The players thanked the president for the impetus he provided when he attended one of their training sessions and the opening and final matches. Hassan Sakr, head of the Sports Council, said the honour of meeting President Mubarak had given a push to all the players to continue doing their best.
Mrs Suzanne Mubarak was also eager to cheer the team in the final and waved a mini Egyptian flag all through the penalty kicks. "I felt that my sons are playing," Mrs Mubarak later said. "I was very happy with their success... this is a message of peace that Egyptians are sending across the world." She also praised the spectators for their behaviour in the stands.
Egypt defeated Cote d'Ivoire in the final in a 4-2 penalty shoot-out after regulation and extra time had ended in a goalless draw.
The win gave Egypt an unprecedented fifth ACN championship. This was the third cup during Mubarak's tenure, Egypt having previously won it in 1986 and 1998.
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online : Located at: http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2006/782/sp1.htm