Pharaohs end 28-year hoodoo to send Egyptians into dreamland

A handout picture released by the Egyptian Presidency on Monday shows Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi honoring players of his country’s national football team following their win over Congo and securing a place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. (AFP)

The sight of a nation overjoyed and in raptures following their country’s football team qualifying for the World Cup is nothing new. The scenes that greeted Egypt’s 2-1 over Congo on Sunday, however, were different in the sheer passion and happiness on display.
A Mohamed Salah penalty in the fifth minute of injury-time secured the victory in Alexandria to book the Pharaohs’ first trip to the showpiece since 1990 and signal the start of a party across the country.
Thousands of Egyptians flocked the streets in celebration, waving flags, setting off fireworks up in the sky and performing the craziest dance moves in any public space they could fill.
Mohammad Adel, one of the many football fans who traveled from Cairo to Alexandria for the match, said nothing makes Egyptians happy in the way football does.
“I attended all of Egypt’s World Cup qualifier matches in 2001, 2005, 2009 and 2013, only to return back home feeling disappointed. But winning last night was enough to make me forget all those tough years,” Adel told Arab News.
Salah had put the Pharaohs ahead after the hour mark. The joy of knowing they were off to Russia next summer, though, was short lived as Arnold Bouka Moutou equalized with just three minutes left.
The Liverpool star sunk to the floor in horror before getting straight back up to his feet and slotting home the 95th-minute spotkick to book his and the Pharaohs’ place in next year’s tournament.
Had the match ended in a 1-1 draw, Egypt would have faced the tough task of beating Ghana away in the group’s final round next month to be sure of qualification.
“I can tell you I felt like my soul was being taken from me the moment Egypt and Congo came to a draw,” Adel said.
“It took me a few minutes to realize Salah’s second goal meant we had actually won and were off to the World Cup.”
In a country that has seen more than its fair share of hardship and turmoil over the past few years, the progression of the national team to the World Cup has provided a welcome distraction from both IMF-backed austerity reforms that have pushed inflation to record highs and the political goings on that have seen two presidents toppled since the 2011 uprising.
Add in the number of near-misses at World Cup qualification, despite winning the African Nations Cup four times since 1990, and it was not hard to understand at the outpouring of joy after Salah’s winner hit the back of the net.
“It’s been 28 years and we’re finally going to enter the World Cup. Today is a day of celebration for the entire country,” 41-year-old Gaber Fathy told AP.
“You can look around and see how people are happy. This is something you never witness in Egypt,” said 23-year-old Gamal Mohamed in downtown Cairo’s Tahrir Square, over which an army helicopter dropped hundreds of Egyptian flags on thousands of fans gathered there.
While the nation celebrated the entire team’s efforts there was no doubting who the man of the moment was. Salah has scored five of Egypt’s seven goals in qualifying, and it was the Liverpool winger who President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi praised on Monday morning.
“I thank you Mohamed,” El-Sisi said in a televised ceremony with the victorious team.
“I thank you all, of course, but Mohamed was under a great deal of pressure from 100 million Egyptians. He had to convert for us to win.
“Did you see what you have done to Egyptians in just over an hour?” El-Sisi added.
“Everyone is happy.”