Egypt promises an end to World Cup qualifier drought

Published on 22 October 2008 at 19:08

Reading time 1 min.

The final segment of the African qualifiers for the World Cup finals in 2010 have drawn Egypt, Algeria, Zambia and Rwanda in one group.

The Pharaohs are confident they can defeat the three others and reach their third finals ever and first since 1990.

Egypt, the two-time African Cup of Nations defending champions, hope to end their World Cup drought and believe they have the manpower to do so.

Star striker Mido, who plays in the English Premier League with Middlesbrough, said failure to make the finals would be catastrophic.

“We have got everything now – the coach, the players – to reach the World Cup. If we don’t, we will be highly disappointed,” said Mido, who missed out on the last Nations Cup in Ghana because of injury.

“Take the case of Amr Zaki. He has proved himself very quickly in a tough league like England after coming from the local league. There are several other players of his quality still playing back home because clubs like Al Ahly and Zamalek have the resources to keep them.”

2010 World Cup South Africa's preparation to host the games on African soil for the first time but also individual African countries' determination to take part in the historic event. Five African countries - Cameroon, Nigeria, Algeria, South Africa and Ghana - are selected to join twenty seven teams from around the world to battle it out on the football pitch for the gold trophy. One by one, the African teams are eliminated, but Africans will not be bogged down as they rally behind their compatriots on the wings of the vuvuzela, a far cry from the near diplomatic row between Algeria and Egypt during the qualifiers. Ghana are the last team to leave but not before African unity becomes reality...