VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — History is at hand. egyptSunday Favorites world cup play against new zealand. The Pharaohs, ranked 28th in the rankings, will not only get their first World Cup victory against the 83rd ranked All Whites, but will also be in a good position to advance to the final tournament.
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan said Saturday in comments translated from Arabic that the match “is our entire world at the moment.”
Their quest for history is part of African football’s huge rise in global status.
of Expanded pool of 48 teams This year’s tournament gave African teams the opportunity to gain greater representation and show that they belong at the top level of international football. A record 10 teams will represent the continent at the World Cup, including Egypt.
“African national teams have demonstrated great performances many times at the World Cup, including this one,” Hassan said.
In the 2022 World Cup, Morocco It was a memorable run to the semi-finals.
Other African teams have already made their mark at the World Cup, with Ghana and Ivory Coast defeating Panama and Ecuador respectively in their opening matches. Four African teams, including Egypt, ended in a draw in their opening matches.
of the pharaohs 1-1 draw Against Belgium, they earned their first World Cup point since 1990. They held the lead until half-time against Belgium, earning their first point in a World Cup. In fact, the match against Belgium was only the second time in this tournament that Egypt had taken the lead over their opponents.
Morocco defeated five-time champions Brazil, Congo escaped with a draw with Portugal, and Cape Verde held tournament favorites Spain scoreless with a 0-0 draw.
Egypt emerged as a great power from a rising continent. The Pharaohs, who have won the African Cup of Nations seven times, are hoping to prove they can reach beyond Africa at this year’s World Cup.
“We want to represent African football and Arab football,” said Hassan, Egypt’s all-time leading scorer and a key player for the Pharaohs at the 1990 World Cup.
Hassan’s experience helped the Egyptian national team, which features star players Mo Salah and Omar Marmouche, return to the tournament after missing out in 2022.
Salah is two goals shy of his manager’s record. The team also features a strong lineup of young players, including 18-year-olds Hamza Abdelkarim. Abdelkarim made his international debut for the first team in a friendly against Russia just last month, making him the latest of a new generation of African stars to debut.
“We want to fulfill the wishes of the Egyptian fans. We only think about bringing happiness to the fans,” Hassan said.
After New Zealand, the Pharaohs will face Iran in Seattle in their final group stage match.
As Egypt’s history draws ever closer, the team is playing for its fans, its nation and Africa.
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Connor Joyce is a student at the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports and Media Institute.
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AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
