CAIRO – Seven-time African soccer champions Egypt host Zimbabwe in Alexandria as they battle to end their 24-year absence from the Fifa World Cup. This 2014 Fifa World Cup match is scheduled to kick-off at 7pm from the Borg El Arab Stadium today.
Egypt’s fine World Cup qualifying run puts a shine on what has been a disastrous last two years for Egyptian football that saw them fail to qualify for the last two African Cup of Nations tournaments and having their domestic league suspended due to matters off the field of play.
Egypt’s recent results can put a smile on their faces. They currently top Group G on six points heading into the third round of Caf zone qualifiers.
Guinea are second on four points, two behind The Pharaohs, while Zimbabwe just have a point to their name which is one less than neighbours Mozambique who are in third place. Egypt’s American coach Bob Bradley says there is a positive vibe in his Pharaohs team ahead of their qualifier against Zimbabwe.
“The good news is the league has started again, which means we have players inside Egypt getting regular matches,” Bradley told Fifa.com.
“There are also more players playing outside Egypt. So while things were difficult here, other opportunities opened up. And we feel good about it all. We have Zimbabwe coming up and then two matches in June, and then the final match in September.
“WPhe haven’t gotten ahead of ourselves but we feel good about our first two results (victories over Mozambique and Guinea) and we have got something going that we believe in. Qualification in Africa is difficult, that home and away ties against another group winner, there will be no margin for error.
“But we are trying to use every moment and every match to learn and become more confident. We’re excited to get back into World Cup qualifying after nine months.”
The Zimbabwean Warriors have really not surprised anyone except their countrymen perhaps by currently occupying the foot of the table in their group.
The Southern African nation has been in transition over the last year and has also been embroiled in a major match-fixing scandal which has seen some players banned by the local football association.
Zimbabwe captain Denver Mukamba says that all they want to do now is focus on matters on the field and bringing some football credibility to the nation.
“We have some good players in our national team and people should not underestimate us. Strikers like Knowledge Musona can win us games and I am also itching to make my mark on the global stage,” said the reigning Zimbabwe Castle Lager Footballer of the Year.
“We know that on paper Egypt are favourites to win this match but we believe in ourselves and our abilities on the field. The road is not yet over for Brazil, there will be a few upsets and that is what football is all about.” Fifa.com
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