Disappointed Egyptian football fans are said
to be visiting their anger on Ghanaians
resident in Cairo by assaulting them following
the 6-1 thrashing of the Pharaohs by the
senior national football team, the Black
Stars.
Some Ghanaians resident in Cairo who spoke
to The finder on condition of anonymity for
fear of reprisal attacks say they have been
attacked by Egyptian football fans without
any provocation.
Their crime is that Ghana walloped Egypt 6-1.
The resounding victory puts the Black Stars in
a good stead to complete a hat-trick of
appearances at the Mundial after 2006 (in
Germany) and 2010 (in South Africa).
But for many Egyptians, the result serves the
biggest pill ever forced down their throats in
as many decades.
As a result, many Ghanaians resident in Cairo,
are living in fear ahead of the second leg of
the 2014 FIFA World Cup playoff in Cairo.
They explained that the fans harmlessly ask
of the nationality of dark- skinned people in
Cairo and the very moment you identify
yourself as a Ghanaian, they assault you.
"Sunday, October 20, 2013, I was walking on
the street and some guys asked me where I
come from. Because I was aware, I told them
I am from Cameroun and they said you are
lucky," one Ghanaian resident in Cairo told
The Finder.
Referring to the second leg encounter, the
person added: "If they play the match here
(Cairo) they will beat us after the march."
When contacted, Ghana Football Association
(GFA) spokesperson, Ibrahim Sanni Daara said
they were unaware of the development.
According to him, GFA met with Egyptian
Embassy officials here in Accra yesterday to
discuss preparations for the return encounter
and promised to follow up and investigate, as
well as communicate this information to
Egyptian Embassy officials.
Following recent political unrest in the North
African country, GFA requested FIFA to move
the return leg of the World Cup qualifying
playoff to a safe and secure venue.
In response, FIFA has given Egypt until
October 28 to provide security guarantees in
order to host Ghana in Cairo for the second
leg of the World Cup qualifying plav-off on
November 19.
In a letter sent to the football associations of
Ghana and Egypt, world governing body FIFA
has given Egypt 17 days to provide
comprehensive security assurances ahead of
the second leg of the 2014 World Cup
qualifying play-off.
