Egypt loses out on World Cup, nation in mourning
Nov 19th, 2009 | By Joseph Mayton | Category: Egypt, Egyptian Sport, Football, News, Sport
CAIRO: Khaled Mustafa and Said Abdel Khalek watch the highlights of Wednesday night’s match between Egypt and Algeria without blank stares. It is early Thursday and the streets of Cairo are as somber and silent as they were loud and jubilant the day before. To even the most ignorant observer, something appears wrong. Egypt lost.
A first half goal put the Algerians up 1-0 into half-time. It was all they would need. A barrage of Egyptian attacks were stymied and after 90-plus minutes, the white and green of Algerian players tumbled onto the pitch in celebration. They were going to South Africa next June to participate in the world’s most prestigious football event, the World Cup.
“I don’t know what to say, we lost,†a distant Khaled said as he sipped his Turkish coffee at one of Cairo’s many little ‘ahwa’s, or coffeehouses. “There can be no excuses, the Algerians won and there is nothing we can do now. It is so depressing.â€
His friend and colleague, Said, nods in agreement. Both young men, in their late 20’s, had flown the red, black and white flag of Egypt throughout the previous few days in preparation for the big match, which saw millions of Egyptians pour onto the streets in emotional excitement at what they were calling an “historic†match.
It was not to be and despite the thousands that gathered in Cairo’s main Tahrir Square hours before the match yesterday, Egyptians are feeling the loss. For many, it is a loss of the hope that had engulfed Egypt for weeks. The World Cup, they felt, was a chance to revive a patriotism that had for too long been absent from the Egyptian psyche.
“It has left me wondering why we all got so excited over a football match. We were on the streets and chanting and cheering for our team, but in the end they let us down and we are back to where we were before this frenzy began,†interjected Said, a local banker. He believes, now, that the media battle with Algeria, and the football match, has done more harm than good for the Egyptian population as a whole.
“Sure, it was nice to see the young people out and supporting our country with flags, face paint and togetherness, but at what cost. Today, I have already talked to my friends and some of them are not even going to work because they are so angry. This is not good,†he added.
It was all football all the time for Egyptians this week and it achieved a national moment of patriotism and nationalism rarely witnessed in the country, but for the millions who watched the match, the loss in Sudan on Wednesday has hit home hard, for Khaled, Said and the majority of the country.
Omar Hussein, the waiter at the café, says that the café was packed with viewers for the match, but when it was over, an uncanny silence pervaded the street.
“I have never seen this before. So much silence and heads lowered. It is as if we lost a war and our national pride. I am shocked, but for me, the match showed us that we cannot avoid the real problems that exist here. Football can do little to change our circumstances,†he said.
How long the wounds of the loss will remain in the country’s minds is yet to be seen, but on Thursday, the quiet of the usually busy streets show that football can have detrimental effects to the people of Egypt.
BM
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Brilliant article, well done.
Congratulations to Algeria!
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Bikya Masr, benwedeman. benwedeman said: Egypt "a nation in mourning." Good thing they're not paying attention to all the other regional catastrophes. http://bikyamasr.com/?p=5882 [...]
What does this pic have to do with your topic….
the pic of the article u put is of Egypt and Sudan’s football match not the match of yesterday!!
what are u trying to reach…..?
The only one we have on file, unfortunately.
We have learned many things from the Egypt-Algeria football saga. It was just a game in the end and we must accept our loss and move on. But despite the unfavorable outcome, we have learned the following:
1. Despite their huge differences and conflicts, Egyptians are capable of uniting as ONE and raising the Egyptian flag in unity. They can unite towards a common goal and approach it enthusiastically, if given the chance. They are not the apathetic people they claim to be.
2. Egyptians have shown that they DO in fact love their country, whether they care to admit it or not. The astounding display of patriotism and nationalism is testament to this fact.
3. The myth of Arab/Islamic/we are all brothers in Islam/we are all Arab brothers has been exposed and gone to hell.
Congratulations to Algeria, hard luck Egypt, and Long Live Egypt.
Dear Egyptian – yr comment #3
You write:
“1. Despite their huge differences and conflicts, Egyptians are capable of uniting as ONE and raising the Egyptian flag in unity. They can unite towards a common goal and approach it enthusiastically, if given the chance. They are not the apathetic people they claim to be.”
and
“2. Egyptians have shown that they DO in fact love their country, whether they care to admit it or not. The astounding display of patriotism and nationalism is testament to this fact.”
Although I’m “only” a chawagaya …
… I do love this chaotic beautiful country too and miss it every time I go abroad. Kind of becoming homesick when we’re gone for too long.
I do agree with you – but it saddens me every time when I see how united “we” can be … only and exclusively when it comes to football.
When we hang the Egyptian flag on National Day we are laughed at. We hang it because we love our country – not the government. Silly? Maybe. We have stickers on our cars “I love Egypt” and get surprised comments. I sometimes for fun wore a botton with “I love Egypt” and got comments like “what’s there to be loved” and “are you crazy?”. Haven’t worn it for a long time and should actually do it on my next shopping day
. I love to provoke discussions.
Isn’t this sad? The Egyptian people have detached themselves from their country and, therefore, their heritage and history because they don’t see any way out of today’s misery. Isn’t this frightening? What do we give and teach our youth? I don’t know which age bracket you are and whether you have kids. But if yes, please teach them the difference between being a blind follower and supporter of whatever government and true patriotism.
One does not need to be ashamed of loving ones own country – it’s worth it! When do we claim it back for the people? United in the goal of creating a more just and fair society with a chanc for everybody? Peacefully united under one flag?
And yes – LONG LIVE UMM EL DUNYYA!!!!