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Tag: Egypt

  • Buhari departs for Egypt

    Buhari departs for Egypt

    President Muhammadu Buhari will depart Abuja Tuesday for Aswan, Egypt to attend the Aswan Forum designed to set “An Agenda for Sustainable Peace and Development in Africa.”

    The Forum which holds December 11-12, 2019, is an initiative to address the interconnections between peace and development in Africa while promoting Africa-led solutions through strengthening policies and practices.

    The initiative is being launched by the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in his capacity as the Chairman of the African Union (AU) and as an advocate of Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development in Africa – a recurring theme of his tenure as the AU Chairman. It is also grounded in the AU’s Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, and the search for African solutions to African problems.

    The gathering is expected to bring together heads of state and government, leaders from regional and international organisations, financial institutions, private sector and civil societies as well as scholars, visionaries and prominent experts for action-oriented discussions on the threats, challenges and opportunities.

    It is also expected to end with a Declaration on the theme of the Forum and become an annual event.

    Speaker of Egypt’s House of Representatives, Ali Abdel Aal had delivered President el-Sisi’s message to President Buhari in Abuja on October 28, 2019 inviting him to the inaugural Aswan Forum.

    The President will be accompanied by Governors Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa, Godwin Obaseki of Edo and Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State.

    Others are: Minister of Defence, Gen. Bashir Magashi (Rtd); Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Amb. Zubairu Dada; National Security Adviser, Maj-Gen Babagana Monguno (Rtd); and the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.

    President Buhari is expected back in Abuja on Friday.

  • Egypt appoint former Al Ahly coach El-Badry as head coach

    Egypt appoint former Al Ahly coach El-Badry as head coach

    Egypt have appointed former Al Ahly player and coach Hossam El-Badry as manager to replace sacked Mexican Javier Aguirre, the country’s Football Association (FA) announced on its website.

    Aguirre was dismissed in July after The Pharaohs’ shock home elimination in the last 16 round of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) they hosted.

    The 59-year-old former Egypt defender has completed three stints as head coach of Cairo-based Al Ahly, starting in 2009 and most recently from 2016-18.

    He has also coached clubs in Sudan and Libya.

    El-Badry will be the first Egyptian to coach the national team since Shawky Gharib in 2014.

    Argentine Hector Cuper was Aguirre’s predecessor.

  • Dead body found in Arsenal midfielder, Elneny’s house

    A dead body has been found in the house of Arsenal star, Mohamed Elneny in Egypt, according to Gazetta.
    Egyptian police are now investigating the matter after the corpse was discovered by the player’s father.
    The newspaper reports that Elneny’s dad immediately notified the authorities after he discovered the ‘lifeless body inside his son’s home.’
    The house, close to the city of Mahalla Al-Kubra, is currently under construction.
    Police are yet to formally identify the deceased and it is not known whether it was a criminal act or an accident.
    The Egyptian midfielder was missing from Arsenal’s squad to face Lyon on Sunday afternoon, as the Gunners slipped to a 2-1 defeat in the Emirates Cup.

  • Aston Villa sign Egypt winger Trezeguet

    Aston Villa have signed on Egypt international Mahmoud Hassan, better known by his nickname “Trezeguet’’, from Turkish side Kasimpasa, the newly-promoted English Premier League (EPL) side said on Wednesday.
    Aston Villa did not disclose financial details of the deal, but reports in the media reported they had paid 8.75 million pounds for the winger.
    The 24-year-old started his career with Egyptian side Al Ahly and had a stint at Anderlecht in Belgium before moving to Turkey.
    He played for Egypt at last year’s FIFA World Cup in Russia and at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, where he scored one goal in four appearances.
    “We’re really excited to work with `Trez’,” head coach Dean Smith said in a statement, after completing Villa’s ninth signing of a busy close season. “I’ve watched him a number of times.
    “He’s the type of wide player that we have been looking for who is direct, causes problems for the opposition in the final third and scores goals.”

  • Court sentences 11 to life imprisonment for joining Islamic State

    Court sentences 11 to life imprisonment for joining Islamic State

    An Egyptian criminal court on Monday sentenced 11 defendants to life in prison on charges of joining the Islamic State extremist group in Syria and Iraq.
    The Giza Criminal Court also sentenced two other defendants to 15 years in prison and another to three years in the same case.
    All verdicts can be appealed.
    The charges against the defendants include receiving training to carry out hostile acts in the country, plotting attacks on police and military forces and seeking to forcibly topple the government.
    Egypt has been battling an Islamist insurgency in northern Sinai since the 2011 uprising that toppled long-time autocrat Hosny Mubarak.
    The attacks have intensified after the military in 2013 deposed Mohammed Morsi, the first democratically elected but divisive Islamist president of Egypt.
    After his ouster, Morsi was detained and tried in several cases.
    He died in mid-June at the age of 67 after suddenly collapsing inside a courtroom in Cairo.

  • Army officer should lead Egyptian football federation, says Former coach

    A former Egypt coach called for a military officer to head the Egyptian Football Federation (EFA) after the host nation was knocked out of the African Cup of Nations.
    Egypt’s 1-0 loss to South Africa on Saturday led to an immediate purge of Egyptian football officials, taking the gloss off a high-prestige event which Egypt volunteered to host at short notice after Cameroon was stripped of the competition.
    “This timing needs discipline that will be found only in the army,” Farouk Gaafar, who led the Pharaohs in 1996-1997, told a talk show on Sunday evening.
    Asked by the presenter whether a military official should preside over the football federation, Gafaar said: “Of course”, adding that the country’s soccer administration needed “an iron fist” to be restructured.
    “I haven’t seen discipline like in the armed forces,” said Gaafar, who once coached an Egyptian club run by the military.
    Analysts say Egypt’s military has been consolidating its expansive role in the country since President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi came to power in 2014.
    The then-military chief led the 2013 overthrow of Egypt’s first freely elected president, Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood, after mass protests against his rule.
    In May, after a train crash at Cairo’s main station left more than 20 dead, Sisi appointed military General Kamel al-Wazir as transport minister.
    A comic (meme) circulated on social media showing Sisi greeting al-Wazir and asking him “Do you know about football coaching?”.
    EFA President Hany Abo Rida resigned hours after the South Africa defeat, simultaneously sacking the team’s Mexican coach Javier Aguirre and his assistants. He also called on EFA’s board members to resign and most have done so.
    Local media reported that authorities are investigating administrative and financial violations committed by the national football federation.

  • Sanwo-Olu denies withdrawing $470m Lagos fund to sponsor AFCON delegation to Egypt

    Sanwo-Olu denies withdrawing $470m Lagos fund to sponsor AFCON delegation to Egypt

    The Lagos State Government has debunked an allegation by the state chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu withdrew $470 million to fund his trip and other persons to watch the Nigeria-Cameroon match at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
    A statement by Sanwo-Olu’s Deputy Chief Press Secretary Gboyega Akosile reads: “There is nothing farther to the truth than this statement, which follows the same pattern of falsehoods usually dished out to the public by the PDP and its mouthpiece.
    “For the avoidance of doubt, His Excellency, Sanwo-Olu did not make any withdrawal for the purpose of attending the AFCON in Egypt.
    “It is a public knowledge that Sanwo-Olu was named among some other dignitaries to attend the ongoing African football fiesta in Egypt.
    “Members of the Federal Government delegation to AFCON 2019 are Dr. Ahmed Lawan, as leader of the delegation, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha.
    “Governors nominated and approved by President Muhammadu Buhari are Sanwo-Olu and Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
    “Also on the list are Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele, President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) Mr. Habu Gumel and a representative of the Presidency, Captain Hosa Okunbo.
    “The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, Olusade Adesola and Muhammad Gambo, the ministry’s Director of Facilities, are also members of the delegation, which include a former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, to complete the 11-man list.”
    It added: “Is it not laughable therefore that PDP will resort to issuing press statements based on fake news on social media? Does it not stand logic on its head to allege that Governor Sanwo-Olu spent $470 million to fund a trip that he was nominated as a delegate?
    “As we have always stated, we will again suggest to the Lagos State PDP and her spokesman to always fact check before putting pen on paper. Opposition politics is not built on lies and fake news.”

  • Egyptian FA president resigns, head coach sacked after AFCON early exit

    President of the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) Hany Abo Rieda resigned after the hosts were stunned by South Africa here on Saturday in the round of 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations.
    He also called on the board members to follow suit and submit their resignations.
    Egypt was shut out of the last eight 1-0 by South Africa with Thembinkosi Lorch scoring a late goal in the 85th minute. The stunning exit marks the first time since 2004 that Egypt fail to reach the quarterfinals.
    Egypt head coach Javier Aguirre was sacked and the whole coaching team was dismissed before Abo Rieda announced his resignation.
    “I’m responsible for all the selections and the end results, but I’m still proud of this group of players,” the Mexican coach said on the post-match press conference before being fired by the EFA.

  • AFCON: South Africa eliminate hosts Egypt to book date with Nigeria

    Hosts Egypt crash out of 2019 AFCON after a late Thembinkosi Lorch goal gave South Africa a 1-0 win in Cairo in a Round of 16 clash.
    The 1996 champions will now meet three-times champions Nigeria on Wednesday in the quarter-finals.
    Details to follow…..

  • Egypt beat Uganda 2-0 to emerge group winner

    The Pharaohs of Egypt have beaten Uganda 2-0 to emerge winners of Group A at the ongoing African Cup of Nations, AFCON.
    The Pharaohs, already qualified before the game guaranteed the group top spot in grand style, winning all three matches of their mini league campaign.
    Superstar Mohamed Salah and skipper Ahmed Elmohamady scored in the opening half final 10 minutes to give Egypt victory that guaranteed the top spot for the hosts, who now await one of the qualified third teams (groups C, D or E) in the next round.
    Meanwhile Uganda qualified for the round of 16, finishing the group in second place, one point more than DR Congo who defeated Zimbabwe 4-0. The Leopards will now wait to see if they can grab one of the four places for the third placed teams.
    Egypt started the match on attacking note, and had the game’s first attempt from Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet” who tried to go through Uganda’s defence but couldn’t control the ball.
    The tide turned to Uganda’s side from then on and Egypt’s goalkeeper Mohamed Elshenawy proved to be Egypt’s man to thank on several occasions. Emanuel Okwi’s shot was destined to give The Cranes the lead after 13 minutes but found the safe hands of Elshenawy, who once again saved The Pharaohs after 24 minutes.