06 January 2025 GMT: 16:04

Egyptians granted a return to Cairo for World Cup playoff

Egyptian fans

By Andrew Warshaw
September 26 – In a significant breakthrough 20 months after the Port Said stadium disaster, Egypt’s national team will play in Cairo for the first time in two years when they take on Ghana on November 19 in the decisive second leg of their World Cup playoff.

The match will be hosted at the 30,000-capacity June 30 stadium in the Egyptian capital, a concession granted by Egypt’s sports minister Taher Abou Zeid after extensive discussions.

Restrictions have been in place ever since 74 people died as a result of clashes between fans of Al-Masry and Al Ahly at the Port Said stadium.

The tragedy led to the cancellation of the rest of the domestic league season and had severe consequences for both Egypt’s national teams and clubs in continental competitions.

Egypt’s league resumed again last February and played behind closed doors – one year after the disaster – but was called off for a second successive year following the overthrow of President Mohamed Morsi in July.

Since then, according to agency reports, the only football has involved the national team and two clubs – Al Ahli and Zamalek – in the group phase of the African Champions League though their home matches have been played in the Red Sea resort of El Gouna.

Egypt’s last World Cup qualifier against Guinea was behind closed doors in Alexandria but despite all the restrictions, Egypt finished top of their group and have since been drawn against Ghana in the two-legged playoffs to determine places in Brazil next year.

Ghana host the first leg in Kumasi on October 15 followed by the return in Cairo. Despite dominating the African Nations Cup with a record seven titles, Egypt have not qualified for the World Cup since 1990.

Their last game in Cairo was a 3-0 win over Niger in October 2011, four months before the Port Said disaster.

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