Decades of heartbreak ends as ‘The Pharaohs’ find a new hero
Egypt have finally found their mojo, overcoming the disappointment of decades of heartbreaking failure to reach the World Cup finals for the first time since 1990. Qualifying had become an obsessive weight on the team, whose repeated failures in the World Cup came in stark contrast to their record-breaking achievements in the African Nations Cup, where they repeatedly won the continental championship.
Egypt reached the African playoffs for the last World Cup but a 6-1 hammering in Ghana proved yet another huge setback and when they were paired with the Ghanaians again in qualifying for the 2018 finals, more disappointment was anticipated.
But Ghana started the campaign poorly, including being beaten 2-0 in Alexandria, and Egypt were able to keep their noses in front in the group, even after losing in Uganda and producing unconvincing displays in their last two home matches.
Giddy celebrations followed after qualification was secured with one game to play, with Mohamed Salah tucking away a late penalty to beat Congo 2-1 at home and avoid having to go to Ghana in their last match to try and secure a World Cup place.
Liverpool’s Salah was the talisman of the campaign, ending as the leading scorer in the African preliminaries with five goals.
He is among a growing contingent of English-based players in the side, including Ahmed Elmohamady of Aston Villa, Mohamed Elneny of Arsenal, Ahmed Hegazy from West Bromwich Albion and the promising Ramadan Sobhi of Stoke City.
Egypt are in Group A with hosts Russia, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.
Argentine-born coach Hector Cuper has managed a smooth transition from the aging generation he inherited into a much younger outfit but still relies on the veteran Essam El Hadary in goal. El Hadary turned 45 in January and if he plays in Russia will set a new record for the tournament’s oldest participant.
But all eyes will be on Liverpool talisman Salah whose goal-scoring exploits have already earned him comparisons with the two biggest superstars in the game — Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo — and made him a strong Ballon’d’Or contender.
Such has been his impact at Anfield that Liverpool legend Michael Owen has already paid him the ultimate tribute.
“He is beginning to make me and the likes of Robbie Fowler, Fernando Torres and Luis Suarez look average,” Owen told The Daily Mail.
“And I don’t think anyone predicted he would score 41 goals by now for the club. If there is one moment which exemplified the improvement, it was the chipped goal he scored at the Etihad to make it 1-1 against Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-final second leg. I didn’t have him down as a natural goal-scorer at the start of the season. He was still a little like Raheem Sterling: raw and picking the wrong finish. “He scored a lot but he missed a lot, too. But that chip against City changed my mind.”
Now if Salah’s goals take Egypt into the knockout rounds in Russia, his countrymen will put him in the pantheon of the greatest Egyptians that ever lived.