Sports Betting Articles
Egypt With High Expectations for South Africa World Cup 2010
By Ally White
The Egyptian team is expected to get to the 2010 World Cup finals after sealing a record sixth African Nations triumphs.
"We will make it to the World Cup. Winning the African Cup of Nations proved that we are able to play against and beat very strong teams," 25-year-old striker Mohamed Zidan stated on the sidelines of a victory celebration in Dubai.
The team has plenty of supporters of all ages; a group of young girls, some of them with the Egyptian flag painted on their faces, screamed "Zizou" who was the player who scored the winning goal in the final in Accra this past Sunday. Matchwinner Aboutraika said: "Now we have to make sure that we keep this form going into the World Cup qualifiers."It's one of the greatest days of my life. It's up there with winning the African Champions League."
"Finally something happy happens to us," said Mohammed Said, sporting an Egyptian flag instead of his traditional galabaya robe. Egypt added the 2008 trophy to their wins in 1957, 1959, 1986 (by penalties defeated Cameroon), 1998 and 2006 with Coach Hassan Shehata joining an exclusive group of just two coaches who have won back-to-back titles.
Shehata had promised that his players could hold the trophy won in Cairo two years ago and his prophecy was proved right in the final. The Egypt team kept their title by defeating the champions of four times Cameroon 1-0. Moreover Egypt has simply achieved the World Cup finals two times, one in Italy in 1934 and the other in 1990. The subsequently World Cup in South Africa, will be the first taking part on African land. "The Egyptian team is a very strong team and winning the Africa's tournament proved it. In the next phase, we will come closer to the World Cup," Coach Hassan Shehata said.
Last night the team was delighted in the United Arab Emirates trade and tourism hub in a festivity supported by the ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum.
The players enjoyed the presence of Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan enclosed with confetti and fireworks over the al-Ahli Club stadium. "I am happy to be here in Dubai. It's a great thing; this is the first honors we get after the tournament and it's outside of our country," Aboutrika told reporters. "We felt the happiness of the people when we were arriving by bus and we saw them making victory signs and waving flags."
About the Author
Ally White is a top senior copy writer for the online bookmaker http://www.instantactionsports.com/uk/
Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content
|
