US embassy obliges Egypt coach Bradley to avoid Tahrir Square

Eslam Omar, Tuesday 22 Nov 2011

Pharaohs training camp will go ahead despite Tahrir unrest; EFA awaiting response from Libya, Sudan and Mozambique regarding friendly matches

Bradley
Egypt's head coach Bob Bradley of the U.S. (Photo: Reuters)

Egyptian national team manager Bob Bradley has received an official warning from the American embassy to avoid Tahrir Square amid continued clashes between protesters and security forces.

Thousands of angry protesters joined a sit-in in Tahrir Square, near the United States embassy, after security forces attacked protesters leaving hundreds injured and up to 33 dead.

Technical staff are due to hold an urgent meeting to discuss the details of the squad’s closed camp due to take place from 28 November until 5 December. Reports said the ongoing unrest would force the camp’s cancelation but the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has denied these rumours.

The Pharaohs are due to play two friendlies during this period but the opponents are unconfirmed. African teams are the most likely opponents.

“We contacted many African teams including Libya, Sudan and Mozambique and we are waiting for their replay,” EFA spokesman Azmy Megahed told Ahram Online.

The 53-year-old former United Stated coach, Bradley, who succeeds the country’s most successful coach Hassan Shehata, spent two months monitoring domestic competitions to select the Pharaohs’ squad for his first match, a friendly against Brazil in Qatari capital, Doha last week. A star-less Brazil won comfortably thanks to Valencia striker Jonas’s two goals after 39 and 59 minutes. A second friendly between the two teams is scheduled for February.

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