FIFA announced on its official website that there have been five factors behind Egypt’s successful campaign in the African qualifiers of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia after a 28-year absence from the World Cup.

In a report published on Monday about Egyptian national team's qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, FIFA said that under the stewardship of Argentinian coach Hector Cuper, the Pharaohs finally fulfilled their long-awaited dream, even if their return to the world stage was not always plain sailing.

When the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced the appointment of Cuper in March 2015, hopes were high despite his having just one previous stint as a national team coach with Georgia in which he registered just a single win at the helm, the report noted.

But Cuper wasted little time in bringing successes to the Pharaohs as the 61-year-old led his charges back to the African Cup of Nations, for which they had failed to qualify in the three previous editions, the report stated.

At the continental championship, Cuper guided Egypt to the final, where they lost 2-1 to Cameroon. Despite the defeat, the team’s performance only strengthened the EFA’s trust in the veteran coach, who ultimately repaid that faith by securing a World Cup return, the report said.

Mohamed Salah also is one of the main reasons for such victory, the report noted.

Salah was starring with Roma, where he has become the club’s second top scorer with 15 goals and the Serie A’s second best in assists (11) during the 2016/17 season. He carried over his superb form into the national team, scoring in all the Pharaohs’ third round victories, including decisive goals against Uganda (1-0) and a brace against Congo (2-1), the report read.

The 25-year-old Liverpool winger managed to shoulder this huge responsibility that comes with being his side’s attacking spearhead, fulfilling the dream of millions of Egyptians to return to the World Cup, the report stated.

The report also pointed out that the return of Essam el Hadary had a major impact on the national team after he had retired from international football in 2013 and seemed that the goalkeeper's national team career was finally over after becoming a second-choice for his country.

However, he made a remarkable return this year, regaining the No1 jersey in somewhat fortuitous circumstances at the 2017 African Cup of Nations. There he became the oldest player in the history of the tournament and led his team to the final of the continental showpiece, the report further said.

During the third round of qualifiers for Russia 2018, the tried-and-trusted custodian has not missed a single minute, playing an invaluable role in the successful campaign, the report added.

The report also underlined that Fortress Borg el Arab, which is located on the shores of the Mediterranean in Alexandria, also can be considered among reasons of achieving the victory as it is fast becoming a famous site in the city after it proved itself a fortress for Egypt during the qualifying campaign. 

At the Borg el Arab Stadium, the Pharaohs registered three victories that were decisive to the campaign. First came triumphs over Ghana (2-0) and Uganda (1-0), before the venue witnessed history being made on October 8th with the dramatic late win over Congo that sealed Egypt’s passage to Russia, the report noted.

As well, the report pointed out to the role played by the four main pillars on which Cuper has heavily relied on including, Essam el Hadary, Mohamed Salah, Mohammed Abdul Shafi, who has proved indispensable on the left flank, and Arsenal’s defensive midfielder Mohamed el Neny, who has been tirelessly breaking up opposition attacks. 

These four players have not missed a single minute of the third-round qualifying games, showing just how influential they have been in the triumphant journey, the report added.

Source: MENA