President Sisi congratulates Egyptian people as national football team reaches AFCON final

CAIRO – 4 February 2022: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi congratulated the Egyptian people on the national team’s qualification for the African Cup of Nations’ (AFCON) final match.

“I extend my sincere congratulations to all Egyptians after our national football team reached the final of the African Nations Cup,” the president wrote on Facebook.

“While I congratulate the heroes of our team and their technical staff, I would like to pay tribute to their fighting spirit, high performance and unyielding determination,” El-Sisi added.

“My sons, the players, have proven that an Egyptian is capable of making the impossible, challenging any difficulty, and reaching the goal, God willing,” he affirmed.

“Thank you all; You have made us all happy, and your country is proud of you,” the president added.

The Egyptian team qualified for the final match of the African Nations in its 33rd edition, held in Cameroon.

The Egyptian team defeated Cameroon in the semi-finals by penalty shootout 3-1 after a draw in the full-time and extra time without goals.

The final is the tenth for the Egyptian team in the African Nations historically, to be the most to play the final match after dismantling the partnership with Ghana.

The Pharaohs achieved the second historical victory over Cameroon with penalty shootout after the 1986 final.

The Egyptian team won their third match out of the 5 matches they have played against Cameroon in the playoffs.

In total, the Egyptian team played 11 matches against Cameroon, winning 3 of them, losing 4, and drawing 4 (they won two of them on penalties).

Carlos Queiroz became the fourth foreign coach playing the final match with the Egyptian national team after Joseph Titkus in 1959, Mike Smith 1986, Hector Cuper 2017.