Egypt qualified for the 2018 World Cup finals after a 2-1 win over Congo Brazzaville saw them qualify for the global showpiece for the first time since 1990.
Egypt won after a penalty kick scored in the fifth minute of second-half added time to reach the World Cup for the first time in over a quarter of a century. Tears were rolling from the eyes of everyone; the players, the staff on the bench, the security officers as the final whistle was blown.
Egypt’s President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has given a bonus of $85,000 (N30,663,750) to each of the players who clinched a place at the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia.
The president announced the reward on Monday as he met the Argentine coach Hector Cuper and the players.
“Maybe we don’t play beautiful football but we are at the World cup and that’s the most important thing,” Cuper said.
Al-Sisi had special praise for match-winner Mohamed Salah, who scored a penalty in injury time to secure the qualification.
“I am proud of all the players but especially of Mo Salah who was brave enough to take the crucial penalty,” the president said.
“Also thank you to coach Cuper who has made our dreams come true.”
Liverpool forward Salah was already looking ahead to Russia.
“We are determined to make the country and continent proud in Russia,” Salah said.
“I am very happy to lead Egypt to a World Cup after 28 years and to make a 100 million proud of us.”
The Pharaohs have won a record seven Africa Cup of Nations titles but have only been to the World Cup twice in 1934 and 1990 and are yet to win a game at the finals. The Pharaohs had qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time since Italia ’90, topping Group E ahead of Uganda, Ghana, and Congo with a game to spare.
Egypt this evening after qualifying to World Cup. Football is more than just a game.pic.twitter.com/yf3VzoHb5T
— Mootaz Chehade (@MHChehade) October 8, 2017
Qualifying for the World Cup is a significant achievement for a country whose national team suffered when the 2011-12 and 2012-13 domestic seasons were canceled following the Port Said stadium disaster and the 2013 coup d’etat.
Indeed, Egypt was competing at this year’s African Cup of Nations (AFCON) for the first time since 2011’s Arab Spring swept across the Middle East and North Africa.
Absolute SCENES in Egypt tonight — qualified for their first World Cup since 1990!
?: @themostafaomar pic.twitter.com/vuOZ04Tlqj
— COPA90 US (@Copa90US) October 8, 2017
Photo Credit: Getty
