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The Pharaohs of Egypt have one of the richest records in the history of the African Nations Cup. They share the enviable record of four wins with the Black Stars of Ghana. They were winners in 1957, 1959, 1986 and 1998. Egypt teamed up with Sudan and Ethiopia in 1957 to become the pioneers of the African Football Confederation (CAF). That same year the trio engaged one another in the first African Cup of Nations in Sudan at a time soccer had really not caught on in most parts of the continent. Egypt easily won that maiden edition with victories over hosts (2-1) and Ethiopia (4-0).

The Egyptians hosted the next edition two years later with the same number of countries in attendance. And, as expected, it was another easy one for the Pharaohs. A (4-1) over Ethiopia was followed (2-1) over Sudan in the final, an exact repeat of the first edition.

Three years later, it was Ethiopia's turn to host and Egypt settled for the silver medal after losing 4-2 to the hosts in the final. The next edition in Ghana the following year saw the Pharaohs clinching the bronze medal despite being unbeaten in their three matches in Group B. Egypt beat Nigeria 6-3 and forced Sudan to a 2-2 draw-a result that confined the team to second place behind Sudan who went through to the final by virtue of their superior goal difference. In the third play-off, Egypt beat Ethiopia 3-0 to avenge their loss to the Ethiopians the previous year and so climaxed the first six glorious years of Egyptian soccer.

The Pharaohs missed out of Tunisia '65 and Ethiopia '68 but returned to top flight in 1970, carting home the bronze in a 3-1 victory over Cote d' Ivoire after going down to hosts Sudan in the semi-finals. Egypt was absent again two years later in Cameroon and failed to make appreciable impact in Ethiopia '76 after winning the bronze as hosts two years earlier. Their return in 1980 after being absent in 1976 was seen as the last four as hopes of another conquest were high. But they lost their semi-final duel to Algeria on penalties and took backstage again before bouncing back to win as hosts in 1986.

Following a first round exit at Maroc '88, Egypt's strained relationship with Algeria compelled the FA to send their Olympic team to the 17th edition of the Nations Cup in 1990 and they quickly eliminated. The FA's decision was seen as a smokescreen aimed at protecting Egypt's World Cup squad from the prying eyes of their opponents.

Battle for Re-discovery

Egypt has received hard knocks for not living up to expectations in the modern and recent editions of the Nations Cup. Aside the first few years when they were clearly masters of the African game, they have not lived up to expectations. Egyptian clubs have dominated the continental club championships. Al Ahly has won the CAF Champions Cup for a record eight times after the club notched another win last year over South African club Mamelodi Sundowns. Incidentally, the club was also named African Club of the Century by CAF sometime last year. Other Egyptian clubs like Zamalek, Arab Contrators and Ismaili have also dominated in other club competitions but the national team has continuously found it difficult to translate this club success into international accomplishment.

The Pharaohs' victory in the 1986 Nations Cup hosted by Egypt was tainted by the penalty win over the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun in the final. The Camerounians, despite the partisan vociferous crowd inside the Alexander Stadium in Cairo, outplayed their hosts and could have easily won the game but for some questionable officiating by the referee. Indeed, the Egyptians looked vulnerable throughout the competition. The team lost the opening game against a high riding Senegalese team that paraded the mercurial Jules Bocande who was a thorn in the defence of the Pharaohs. The game ended 2-1 and it was apparent that the Egyptians were heading for doom but somehow, backed by political machinery the team managed to make it to the finals.

Again, the Pharaohs' victory in the 1998 edition hosted by Burkina Faso was blemished by the absence of Nigeria from that edition. Indeed, the Nigerians were banned from Burkina Faso after maximum ruler Sani Abacha prevented the Super Eagles from playing in South Africa '96. The Nigerians were hailed by experts as the best team in Africa at that period and their absence did not only taint Egypt's feat but also the South African win two years earlier at home.

However, the competition was a memorable one for Egyptian fans who had watched the national team underachieved for years. Pharaohs' coach Mahamoud El Gohari who was one of the key players in the team's success in 1959 also became the first coach to win the cup both as a player and coach. The Egyptians' road to the tournament in Mali was easy. In a group comprising Libya, Sudan and Cote d' Ivoire they were expected to secure one of the two tickets. They won five of the six matches and could have secured maximum points in the group if the Ivoriens had not rallied to a 2-2 draw in Abidjan.

Egypt also demonstrated its readiness for the Nations Cup with an emphatic 2-0 win over the Black Stars on January 4. The match played in Ismaila saw new rising star Khaled Bebo score first while Ahmed Salah Hosni added the second at the stroke of half time. Bebo was in fantastic form in the CAF Champions League and scored a hat trick in the final against Mamelodi Sundowns. With stalwarts like veteran striker Hossam Hassan, Hani Ramzy and goalkeeper Nader El Sayed reaching the twilight of their careers, Egypt have had to bring new and younger players into their squad.

The most exciting is Ajax Amsterdam striker Ahmed Hossam, who is labelled the new Hassan. He has been in terrific form for the Dutch club since the beginning of the current European season. If he takes the form to Mali, the defenders of opposing teams like Senegal, Zambia and Tunisia grouped to tussle for the two tickets in Group B could just watch the Pharaohs pick up easily one of the tickets. However this not to say that the old guard could be easily dismissed.

Coach El Gohari's task of introducing new talents into the squad has been made easy with the semi-finals placing of the country in the World U-20 Championships in Argentina last July, so has a solid core of youngsters coming through.

El Gohary is keen to shake off the disappointment of failing to reach the World Cup, but however his task might have been made more burdensome with inclusion of the Lions of Senegal who had become a sort of enigma to the Egyptians over the years. They stopped them from making the World Cup and could be a major factor in determining their fate in Mali.

But they have been grouped alongside old foes Senegal who many tipped to be one of the sides to spring surprises at the tourney while Tunisia with their experienced team would prove hard nuts to crack. Zambia, still to find its feet since the exit of influential leader Kalusha Bwalya, may however be the whipping team in the group.

Egyptian fans are eager that the national team would hit the form that had made Egyptian clubs the most dreaded in the continent.

Coach:

Mohammed El Gohary

Star Player:

Ahmed Hossam