CAIRO: Egypt captain Ahmed Hassan said that the Pharaohs deserved a World Cup slot more than their Group C rivals, in the wake of his side s 1-0 win at Zambia in the qualifying stage on Saturday.
The current selection of Egypt players have what it takes to reach the World Cup, in terms of tenacity and skills, the Ahly ace told Egyptian radio.
The match with Zambia was a bumpy ride. The pressure evidently affected our performance but we eventually atoned for our mistakes and scored a win.
A thunderous shot from Ahly Dubai midfielder Hosni Abd-Rabou in the 69th minute gave the African champions all three points.
Group C leaders Algeria, who now hold a two-goal advantage over Egypt, can regain their three-point lead on top if they beat Rwanda at home on Sunday.
Egypt host Algeria next month in their last group game. Goal difference can eventually play a role in determining the group winners who will book a place in next year s South Africa finals.
Hassan stated that the Algerians would be terrified by the Egyptian fans support in the anticipated meeting.
They once said that their trip to Egypt will be joyful and full of entertainment, but I assure them that it won t, he said.
Cairo Stadium might accommodate only 80,000 spectators, but I would like to tell the Algerian players that 80 million Egyptians will be egging on their team.
The venue will turn into the stadium of horror.
