adminPharaohs begin to prepare for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
The Pharaohs are in the same group as Zimbabwe, Guinea and the winner of the play-off between Mozambique and Comoros islands.
The Egyptians have been having a disappointing 2012 Nations Cup campaign, where they anchor their group, and the football leaders in Cairo have decided to dissolve their ageing national team.
It brings to an end the era of the golden generation that won the Nations Cup for Egypt in 2006, 2008 and 2010.
It also means that the Pharaohs will have a completely youthful team by the time they take on the Warriors for the battle to qualify for the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil.
The Under-23s will now complete the remainder of the 2012 Nations Cup qualifiers for the Pharaohs, beginning with next weekend’s trip to Sierra Leone. Egypt are in the same Nations Cup qualifying group as Bafana Bafana and South Africa’s head coach Pitso Mosimane said he was disappointed by the action taken by the Egyptian Football Association.
South Africa played both their two matches against the Egyptians when the Pharaohs were using their experienced players and Bafana Bafana believe their decision to use youngsters will aid Sierra Leone.
Egypt FA chairman Samir Zaher was quoted saying: “The results of the two matches are of no importance, so we decided to hand the task to the Olympic team. It could be ideal preparation for the London 2012 Olympic qualifier in December.”
Twenty nine provisional players, who play for the Under-23 squad, have been called up for their Afcon clash against Sierra Leone on Saturday, 3 September 2011 in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
“It really doesn’t affect us much because even if they were using their strongest side we still have a job to do for ourselves, we still have to win our matches,” said Mosimane.
“We have to beat Niger and Sierra Leone to make sure we qualify, we don’t need any favours from anyone because in any case we have been top of our group since the beginning of the qualifiers.
But at the same time it is amazing and disappointing at how Egypt looks at the Afcon qualifiers with two matches to go.
“We are talking about the Kings of Africa here, where’s the pride of Egypt? We don’t want to discredit their Under-23 squad but sending them to Freetown and then to host Niger looks like a donation of six points,” said Mosimane.
Captain and striker Ahmed Hassan has been included in the provisional squad to use his experience to guide the youngsters.
The Zamalek midfielder has been capped 175 times for Egypt, and just returned from injury.
“Egypt has a good crop of talented players who gave us a tough time in our two matches against them, so it surprises me that they have been left out even though the FA says it’s rebuilding its ageing side,” said Mosimane.
“They have the likes of Ahmed Elmohamady (25 years, 45 caps, Sunderland); Ahmed Fathy (26 years 82 caps, Al-Ahly); Ahmed Samir Farag (25 years 15 caps, Ismaily); Shikabala (25 years 17 caps, Zamalek); Geddo (26 years 21 caps, Al-Ahly); El Gabbas (23 years 8 caps, Lierse); Ahmed Ali (25 years 7 caps, Ismaily) and Ibrahim Salah (24 years 4 caps, Zamalek).
“So you ask yourself what is the future of all these players because they have not been called up. Is it not the time to build the team around them because they already have the experience to help the Under-23s.” – Sports Reporter/Safa Media.
The Pharaohs are currently bottom of Group G with two points after four matches.
They trail group leaders South Africa by six points with two matches still left in the qualifiers. Niger is second with six points, following by Sierra Leone one point adrift.
South Africa defeated Egypt in the first leg played at the Ellis Park on Saturday, 26 March 2011 with a Katlego Mphela goal in referee’s optional time.
Bafana Bafana went on to play a goalless draw in the return leg on Sunday, 5 June 2011 in Cairo.
Earlier in the qualifiers the Pharaohs drew 1-1 with Sierra Leone in September last year and then went on to lose 0-1 to Niger on 10 October 2010.
South Africa takes on Niger on Sunday, 4 September 2011 in Niamey, Niger then host Sierra Leone in October. –
Online Reporter