Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi greets Egyptian football star and key player Mohamed Salah as he receives the national team before a final training that comes ahead their participation in World Cup 2018 in Russia next week (Photo Courtesy of Egyptian Presidency)
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi hosted the country's national football team at the presidential palace in Cairo on Saturday, one day before they head to Russia for the 2018 World Cup.
According to El-Sisi’s spokesman Bassam Rady, the president wished the team best of luck in Russia and said that he was totally confident that they are aware of the responsibility on their shoulders.
El-Sisi also asked all the national team members to do their best to please the Egyptian people.
The president stressed that the team members should exercise discipline, as a reflection of Egypt’s deep-rooted heritage.
Sports Minister Khaled Abdel-Aziz and Egyptian Football Association board members also attended the meeting, alongside the players and the technical staff.
The team will have their final training session on Saturday night at Cairo International Stadium which will see fan attendance.
The Pharaohs will then fly to Russia early on Sunday for the team’s first appearance at the World Cup since 1990, when they exited at the group stage.
The team’s young star Mohamed Salah told the president at Saturday’s meeting that he is recovering well from the shoulder injury he received at the UEFA Champions League final in May, and that he is close to being fully fit.
Coach Hector Cuper also insisted that the team is ready and determined to delight the Egyptian people.
The seven-time African champions will kick off their World Cup campaign on 16 June against Uruguay, then face hosts Russia on 19 June.
Their final Group A match will be against Saudi Arabia on 25 June.
On Monday, team coach Hector Cuper announced Egypt's final 23-man squad for the prestigious tournament.
In the final training camp ahead of the World Cup, Egypt secured a late 1-1 draw against Kuwait before holding Colombia to a 0-0 stalemate in the Italian city of Bergamo last week.
The team lost 3-0 to Belgium in Brussels on Wednesday in the last warm-up match.
In March, Egypt lost to Portugal and Greece in two friendly matches held during their first training camp in Switzerland.
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