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Monday, 9 October 2017

Egypt’s World Cup qualification dominates the airwaves

The euphoria from the Pharaohs’ success in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup permeated the airwaves last night, as the talking heads promptly ignored anything and everything else that could have possibly been going on in the country (which really wasn’t much).

A tearful Lamees Al Hadidi brought a taste of street celebrations into the Hona Al Asema studio, complete with a huge flag and horns (watch, runtime 2:48). National team member Amr Gamal, who was subbed-in during the last 10 minutes of the match, told Lamees that the entire team felt immensely pressured while playing. The host also aired footage of celebrations around the world, including in Saudi Arabia and New York (watch, runtime 2:04).

Kol Youm’s Amr Adib, meanwhile, actually brought the street into the studio. Surrounded by a crowd of rowdy football fans, Adib bobbed and shook his head in what we think was a celebratory dance as he — quite literally — screamed out supportive chants for each team player individually (watch, runtime 8:20).

To talk about the game, Adib brought in veteran player Magdy Abdel Ghany, who tooted his own horn for having once played in the World Cup (back in 1990) and also getting to attend the tournament as a member of the Egyptian Football Association Board (watch, runtime 3:06).

Over on Masaa DMC, sports analyst Hassan El Mestekawy told host Eman El Hosary that the national team should begin now to mentally and physically prep for the championship by playing friendly matches with rival teams (watch, runtime 5:54).

Meanwhile on Yahduth fi Masr, former interim president Adly Mansour told Sherif Amer that he was particularly happy to see how both full and orderly the stadium in Borg El Arab was during the game.

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