The Egyptian soccer team (Photo: Reuters)
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has received approval from the security authorities to hold Egypt's continental football game at Alexandria's Borg El-Arab stadium, but behind closed doors.
The Pharaohs are hosting Guinea in the last round of Group G of the CAF qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup on 10 September.
Due to recent security instability, especially after the military ousted elected president Mohamed Morsi following mass protests, Egypt has hosted all continental football games in Hurghada's Gouna stadium.
The national team match was also supposed to be held there, 430km away from the capital Cairo, at Gouna stadium, which is without floodlights, but FIFA disapproved of the venue as it was not listed earlier as one of the tournaments' arenas.
"Yes, it is final. Egypt will play at Borg El-Arab stadium but no fans will be allowed to attend," EFA spokesman Azmy Megahed confirmed to Ahram Online on Wednesday.
Almost all football games in Egypt have been held behind closed doors since February 2012 when 70+ spectators died in clashes in Port Said stadium.
The Pharaohs are on top of Group G, securing their place in the final qualifying round of the African qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The holders of three successive African Cup of Nations Cups, 2006 and 2008 and 2010, Egypt are bidding for their first qualification ticket to the most prestigious tournament since 1990.
The African draw for the final round, featuring the 10 group winners, will be made on 16 September in Cairo.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports)
Short link: