Egypt’s coach Hector Cuper said on Saturday his team will do its best to win the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals which kicks off in Gabon on 14 January, and also urged Egyptians to stand behind the Pharaohs to reach the 2018 World Cup finals.
"We are ready and enthusiastic for the African Cup finals. We will try to deliver our best to achieve good results," the Argentinian coach said in a press conference on Saturday.
"I wish i could have included many other players, but I am obliged to select a certain number," added the former Valencia and Inter Milan boss who recently announced a 27-man preliminary squad for the prestigious tournament.
The record seven-time African champions, Egypt, will take on Ghana, Mali and Uganda in Group D of the Nations Cup, which will be played in Gabon from 14 January to 5 February.
After missing the past three edition, the Pharaohs have reached the Africa cup for the first time since they won their seventh title in Angola in 2010.
"In Egypt I always feel that I am facing a test to succeed or to fail. What I say is that we will try to win the African Cup title," the 61-year-old explained.
"We work with transparency and we try to be fair in every situation, but, at the end, it is impossible to satisfy all people. We need the support of the media.
"I always ask every player to deliver his best. I will go to win in Gabon -- the fact I’m trying to stress on with my players. The tournament is important and I know well that fans adore trophies," Cuper added.
Egypt is also bidding for its first World Cup appearance since 1990, and currently leads its group with six points, two clear of Uganda, while Ghana are third with a solitary point ahead of the pointless Congo.
Egypt, which has not lost in any home World Cup qualifiers since 2004, faces Uganda next in two home and away matches in 2017.
"We need the support of all Egyptians to fulfil the World Cup dream. I won't qualify alone for the finals in Russia since this needs great efforts from several parties around the team," the coach concluded.
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