Egypt national team coach Hector Cuper (Photo: Reuters)
Egypt coach Hector Cuper has said he rejected Sports Minister Khaled Abdel-Aziz's request to hold the coming closed training camp in Sharm El-Sheikh, confirming it will be held in Alexandria as usual, Al-Ahram Sports Arabic website reported on Friday.
Egypt's national team will start a closed camp on 26 May as part of preparations for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
The minister asked the Egyptian Football Association to change the venue of the Pharaohs' camp to Sharm El-Sheikh, under the sponsorship of the ministry, but Cuper rejected this request and asked to hold the camp in Alexandria as the players are used to playing in Borg El-Arab stadium.
The Pharaohs cemented their position at the top of Group G of the 2017 CAN qualifiers with seven points, five clear of second-placed Nigeria, who have now lost any chance of reaching Africa's most prestigious tournament in Gabon next year.
FIFA and CAF have determined that the draw for the third round of African Zone qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia will be held at CAF headquarters in Cairo on 24 June.
Just 20 teams now remain from the second round, all of whom will be eagerly awaiting this Round 3 draw, the procedures for which - including pots and seeded teams - will be announced in due course.
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