Egypt’s 10-0 routing of Swaziland on Friday night served as a rude awakening to the Zimbabwe Warriors on the daunting task awaiting them against the Pharaohs in Tuesday’s Group G World Cup qualifier at Alexandria’s Borg El-Arab Stadium.
Report by Michael Madyira
The seven-time African champions put back a four-friendly match losing streak since January, and made a statement of intent to Zimbabwe in their final warm-up match.
The Pharaohs are in charge of Group G with maximum points from two matches, three ahead of Guinea and five clear of the Warriors and Mozambique.
The way Egypt, coached by Bob Bradley thrashed Swaziland appear to have sent shock waves in Zimbabwe’s camp ahead of Tuesday’s clash. Even former Warriors coach Rahman Gumbo appeared terrified by the Egyptians’ ruthless demolition of Swaziland.
“Hey, it is so scary,” said Gumbo.
“Egypt are very serious about this whole thing. But I wish our boys all the best.”
“They just have to give it their all. I am proudly Zimbabwean and all I want is for us to come back with a positive result from Egypt. This is a time when we all have to rally behind our team,” Gumbo said. Warriors mentor Klaus-Dieter Pagels has enough reason to worry about the task that lies ahead.
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More alarming is the fact that Bradley’s charges managed a harvest of goals without employing a recognised striker.
But Goal.comNigeria Chief Editor Lolade Adewuyi, a respected African football writer told Standardsport that Zimbabwe stands a chance against Egypt. “I think Zimbabwe can play a good game against Egypt knowing that the Egyptians are in a rebuilding state and their victory over Swaziland was in a friendly. Competitive matches in Africa are hard to predict these days and that is why Egypt have not qualified for a major tournament in three years,” said Adewuyi.
While both sides are rebuilding, Egypt began their exercise at last year’s London Olympics and have played seven friendlies, some against competitive sides between November and Friday.
The Warriors on the other hand have managed a single sparring session against lowly-ranked Botswana during the same period, leaving them vulnerable to an onslaught.
The Pharaohs, who are dominated by local-based players, were affected by the suspension of the Egyptian league due to political turmoil in that country.
With the skillful and pacey duo of Switzerland-based Mohamed Salah and Zamalek’s promising youngster Mohamed Ibrahim instrumental in shredding Isihlangu, Pagels should have a mobile midfield and a compact defence.
The Zamalek-dominated Pharaohs also enjoy the services of 34-year-old midfielder Mohamed Aboutrika, a veteran of two Africa Cup of Nations winning teams.
While Pagels has overlooked a few players plying their trade in competitive European leagues, his Egyptian counterpart Bradley has called up players based in Oman, Saudi Arabia and the English Championships in which Bradley Pritchard plies his trade.
The Warriors arrived in Egypt on Friday morning and conducted their first training in the afternoon in Alexandria where they are based.
They would be banking on the European-based trio of Knowledge Musona, Ovidy Karuru and Archford Gutu to stabilise an otherwise inexperienced squad.
