CAIRO: Following two disappointing results against Zambia in Cairo and Algeria in Algeria, Egyptian fans were left upset and worried about the national team’s chances for qualifying to world cup 2010 in South Africa.
However, the players now have the chance to revive their campaign when they host Rwanda at the Military Academy Stadium in Cairo Sunday night, provided they win by a large goal difference.
While the team was in South Africa for the Confederations Cup, they were watching their competitors Zambia and Algeria face off hoping for a draw that would refresh their campaign. However, a two-goal victory for Algeria only fueled frustration and worries on the Egyptian side.
Egypt, which has drawn with Zambia in Cairo, is currently at the bottom of Group C, with one point, one game and six points behind leaders Algeria.
At the time when Hassan Shehata’s ability to coach the national team was questioned, he took the world by surprise as Egypt beat Italy 1-0 a couple of days after giving a top-class performance against Brazil at the Confederation Cup.
But this restored faith didn’t last long; while everyone was discussing how many goals Egypt would score against Rwanda, Zambia and Algeria in World Cup qualifiers, the shocking 3-0 loss to US in Confederation Cup was a rude awakening.
But the team didn’t lose their support base among their fans that stood by the players and coach staff when South African tabloids claimed that some players had brought prostitutes to their hotel room after the Italy win.
Rwanda s match, postponed from June, is one of four matches that Egypt has to win with a high score difference in order to qualify for the World Cup; losing any point means the campaign is over.
Realizing the importance of the game, Shehata took his players to a closed preparation camp in Cairo for one week in which he called back Zamalek rising star Hazem Emam, Ismaily s Sherif Abdel Fadil and Arab contractors forward Ehab El Masry.
Rwanda won t be easy, they have the ambition of achieving a good score and we will have to deal with it very carefully, Shehata told Reuters ahead of the game.
Although he has no option but attacking and scoring, Shehata lacks strikers after the injury of Emad Meteb, Hany Abu Greisha, Ahmed Abdel Ghani and the exclusion of English premiership strikers Amr Zaki and Ahmed Mido Hossam.
Instead Shehata will have to rely on his sole striker Ahmed Raouf and originally attacking midfielders Mohamed Abou-Trika, Mohamed Zidan and Ahmed Eid.
The absentees list also includes Ahmed Fathy for injury and Ahmed Hassan for suspension, but left wing Sayed Moawad will return from injury.
Rwanda
Nicknamed the wasps Amavubi , the Rwandan team has no other option but to win in order to at least secure third place in the group to participate in the upcoming African Cup in January held in Angola.
For this reason, Branko Tucak, Croatian manager of the team, recalled back FC Brussels pair Eale Lutula and Jean Paul Kielo Lezi, and Jules Cesar Oulai from Royale Union Saint Gillis in Belgium
Implementing usual mind games, the Rwandan football federation leaked news that three professionals playing in Cameroon will join the team as well as striker Mohammed Tchite of Spanish side racing Santander, but none of this happened.
In preparation for the game, the team recently beat Africa All Stars team 4-0 in a charity game before they arrive in Cairo Saturday.
With both teams aiming at nothing but victory, goals are expected. However, the scales are leaning toward the Egyptian team, as they enjoy the support of the home fans and high morals after a satisfying campaign at the confederations cup.
