Egypt hope playing at home will be a winner
Pressure as fans anticipate Africa Cup of Nations victory for the hosts, writes Hamza Hendawi
Mohamed Salah and hosts Egypt will face Zimbabwe in the opening match of the 24-nation Africa Cup of Nations on June 21 in Cairo, the start of a campaign that, if successful, could land them a record eighth title.
Inspired by Liverpool forward Salah Egypt reached the final two years ago in Gabon, but lost 2-1 to Cameroon.
It was the first time they had qualified for the tournament since they won the last of their seven titles in 2010. Egypt became hosts for this summer’s event when Cameroon lost the right because of poor preparations and security concerns.
It will be the fifth time they have staged the event, which will feature 24 teams for the first time and be played in six venues in four cities: Cairo, Alexandria, Suez and Ismailia.
The tournament has traditionally been held at the start of the year, but it has shifted to the summer this time – the European off-season – to prevent the disruption inflicted on Europe’s club football.
This year’s tournament will also feature first-time qualifiers in Mauritania, Madagascar and Burundi.
Home fans will be expecting their side to win the continental tournament to compensate for their disappointing run in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where they crashed out in the group stages after losing all three games.
History may be on Egypt’s side though. They have won the title three out of the four times the competition has been played in their country.
But the expectation on the players will be high after the draw was held on Friday night in front of the Sphinx and Giza Pyramids just west of Cairo.
“The pressure will be tremendous. It would have been easier on the players if the tournament had stayed in Cameroon,” said Kareem Ramzy, a prominent football analyst and the host of a popular television sports show in Egypt.
“But it’s tough for this team to win it. When people speak of this squad, only Salah’s name stands out. No one else instantly comes to mind.”
Carrying the squad on his shoulders is nothing new to the 26-year-old.
He almost single-handedly ensured Egypt’s qualification to the World Cup for the first time since 1990 and will be expected to play an integral role again in the summer.
Fortunately for the Egyptians, fellow group teams Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo will hardly surprise them since they faced both teams in the 2018 World Cup qualifying group matches. They lost to Uganda away, but beat them at home, while triumphing over the Republic of Congo in both legs.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Egypt should cruise to the round of 16, but it is likely to be less easy for some of the other six seeded teams.
The draw gave Senegal and Liverpool striker Sadio Mane tough rivals in the form of Algeria, spearheaded by Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez, in Group C. Kenya and Tanzania round off the grouping.
Cameroon, the defending champions, and Ghana are in Group F along with Benin and Guinea-Bissau.
But it is Group D that is arguably the hardest of the six to pick a favourite from with Morocco, Ivory Coast and South Africa drawn together with Namibia.
“It is not like before when the gap was huge between A-list teams and the rest,” said Ramzy, warning against taking the seeding system for granted. “The gap has to a large extent been bridged.”