By FRANCO PANIZO
It all comes down to this.
The beginning of the end of Egypt’s turbulent road in qualifying for the 2014 World Cup is set to take place on Tuesday, as head coach Bob Bradley guides the Pharaohs into Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, Ghana to take on the Black Stars in the first match of their two-legged playoff. A World Cup berth is on the line over the course of a pair of matches that will culminate what has been a tough but so far successful campaign for Egypt, the only nation in the entire world that is still undefeated in this qualifying cycle.
Bradley has a tough task on his hands not only on Tuesday, but over the course of the two games (the Egyptians are set to host the return leg in Cairo on Nov. 19). Ghana are traditionally one of the stronger teams in Africa and eliminated the U.S. Men’s National Team from the 2010 World Cup back when Bradley was in charge of the Americans, and the unforgiving nature of these African playoffs could put a serious dent in what has been a remarkable job by Bradley and his Egyptian players given the circumstances they have faced.
Still, Bradley and Egypt have defied the odds before. They finished atop Group G in the last round of qualifying with a 6-0 record despite the Egyptian league being suspended due to turmoil in the African country, and won home matches played in empty stadiums. That has instilled plenty of confidence in Egypt as they look to knock off Ghana in order to earn their first World Cup berth since 1990, something that the Egyptian people are seriously hoping for.
Securing a place in Brazil 2014 will not be easy by any stretch, but nothing so far has been for Bradley and Egypt and yet they still stand. Tuesday’s game will be pivotal in their quest to reach the World Cup, but it could very well serve as the latest chapter in the incredible story that has been this qualifying campaign for both Bradley and the Egyptians.
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How do you see Bradley and Egypt faring in Ghana on Tuesday? Think they will grab a result? Impressed by the fact that Egypt is the only undefeated team left in 2014 World Cup qualifying?
Share your thoughts below.
Ouch! 6-1. Too much to ask. No pro league, civil turmoil,…the best opposition CAF could offer in Ghana. Too much.
Early goals are a killer.
Egypt is done…time to get out of Dodge Robo.
Get outta there Bob.
Poor Bob… awful draw to come up against his bogey team and now his side are getting thrashed 5-1….
I want Ghana to be in Brazil. We need revenge!
So… Bob Bradley’s likely going to coach DC United next year, right?
I think that winning the Open Cup keeps Benny Boy employed..which, as an RBNY fan, delights me
Terrible PK call on the keeper. 5-1.
What channel is this on?
1st R*w.
God d@mn Asamoah Gyan.
Ghana has a pretty sick team, and they’re all sub-27.
not looking good – Ghana up 4-1 in the early second half. If this result holds would mean Bob’s squad would have to shut out Ghana and score at least 3 goals in the home leg. ugh.
they wouldnt have to shut them out, but they would have to score 4 more goals.
3-0 does the trick, so does 5-1.
Pharaohs get one back!
Bob is going to wow Ghana with the box midfield!
kumasi. not Accra. homework!
2-0 and could be more. This could be ugly.
Ugh, down a goal early.
Ghana scored. But then like 2 minutes later, a ghanan passed the ball back to the keeper with his feet… Refs never call this….
I think its ridiculous enough that they let people head it back to the keeper. Mostly I’m just grumpy Ghana is winning.
usually they do but that was pretty egregious
Best of Luck, Pharaohs!
you can track the match here. kickoff is noon, EST.
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/africa/matches/index.html
1-0 Ghana in the 5th minute. Guyana scores against Bob’s team again.
Good luck Bob! Give the Egyptian people something to cheer for, they need it!