On this day, March 27, 2005, the Egyptian national team achieved a major victory over its guest, the Libyan national team, by four goals to one, in the third group matches of the African qualifiers qualifying for the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.
The Libyan team took the lead through Othman Al-Ferjani in the 50th minute, before the Egyptian team scored four consecutive goals through Ahmed Hossam “Mido” in the 54th minute, Imad Miteb in the 56th and 81st minutes, and Ahmed Hassan in the 77th minute of the match.
The Egyptian national team, led by Hassan Shehata, started the match with a formation consisting of: “Abdul Wahed Al-Sayyed, Ahmed Fathi, Bashir Al-Tabei, Wael Jumaa, Ahmed Abu Muslim, Ahmed Eid Abdel Malik, Q. 57,” Mohamed Barakat, Hosni Abd Rabbo, Mohamed Shawqi, Mohamed Aboutrika, “Abdul Zaher Al-Saqqa, Q. 84,” and Ahmed Hossam Mido. “Ahmed Hassan, Q. 72,” and Imad Miteb.
On this day, March 27, 2018, the Egyptian national team lost to its Greek counterpart with an unanswered goal in the match that was held at the Leitz-Jerund Stadium in Zurich, Switzerland, as part of the Pharaohs’ preparations to participate in the World Cup finals that were held in Russia. The match was managed by the Swiss referee, Fayadi San, and the Egyptian team started the match. Without the participation of a number of its stars, led by the star Mohamed Salah, Abdullah Al-Saeed and Ahmed Hegazy, the “Pharaohs” did not perform as they expected, and they received a goal in the 30th minute from Nicholas Calliris, ending the first half with a clean goal.
Argentine coach Hector Cuper made several substitutions in the second half of the match, but they did not affect the Egyptian performance, so the match ended with a clean goal for Greece.
Representing the national team: Mohamed Awad, Ahmed Al-Mohammadi, Ali Jabr, Saad Samir, Omar Jaber (Ayman Ashraf, 52nd), Mohamed Magdy Afsha, Hussein Al-Shahat, 46th, Mohamed Elneny, Hossam Ashour, Abdullah Al-Saeed, 64th, Ramadan Sobhi, Shikabala, 79th, and Moamen Zakaria. Amr Warda, Q. 46, and Marwan Mohsen, Mahmoud Kahraba, Q. 66.
Cuper led the Egyptian national team in 37 matches (22 official, 15 friendly), winning 20, losing 11, and drawing 6. Under his leadership, the team scored 48 goals and conceded 26 goals.
Cuper succeeded in achieving the Egyptians’ biggest dream of qualifying for the World Cup after an absence of 28 years. He also succeeded in leading the Pharaohs to qualify for the 2017 African Nations Championship in Gabon after an absence from the last 3 tournaments, as well as qualifying for the final match of the African Nations Cup before losing to the Cameroon national team. Two goals to one.
The national team’s participation in the 2018 World Cup in Russia was very lackluster after an absence of nearly 28 years, as the team played 3 matches in the World Cup without achieving any victory and suffering three defeats from the teams of Uruguay, Russia and Saudi Arabia, so the Football Association decided to dismiss Cuper from his position.
The Egyptian team was last crowned with the African Cup of Nations title in 2010 in Angola, and for the third time in a row after 2006 in Egypt and 2008 in Ghana.
The national team maintains the lion’s share of the records in the African Nations Championship throughout its history, by achieving the title 7 times throughout the history of the tournament. It is at the forefront of the African teams that have achieved the most titles, with a difference of two championships from its closest competitor, the Cameroon team, which has won the tournament 5 times. The Pharaohs’ team is also considered the national team. The only team to have won the title three times in a row, starting with the tournament held in Egypt in 2006, then the tournament held in Ghana 2008, and ending with the tournament held in Angola 2010.
