If history is anything to go by, then Egypt will need to produce their best form to get past Morocco in their Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final match in Cameroon later on Sunday.
Egypt and Morocco have played each other 13 times dating back to the 1970s, with Morocco winning 11 and just two going the Pharaohs’ way. But Egypt have a far superior Afcon record, having won the cup a record seven times compared to Morocco’s lone victory in 1976.
But that’s just history.
Egypt's form has vastly improved since they lost to Nigeria in their opening group match. That defeat was compounded by a lethargic display by captain and Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah.
Egypt recovered to claim maximum points from their remaining group matches against Guinea-Bissau and Sudan, with narrow 1-0 wins. Good form, however, remained elusive.
But the Pharaohs impressed against a strong Ivory Coast side in Wednesday’s first knockout match, showing grit and cohesion in a clash that went into extra time with both sides failing to score at the end of 120 minutes.
The Egyptians won the penalty shootout 5-4 with Salah scoring the winning penalty after substitute goalkeeper Mohammed Abu Gabal saved the Ivorians’ third attempt from the spot.
A widely shared photo of Abu Gabal carrying a celebrating Salah riding on his back and punching the air in triumph encapsulated the mood of the resurgent Pharaohs.
Egypt, however, have lost the invaluable services of Mohammed El Shennawy, one of Africa’s best goalkeepers, after he pulled a hamstring muscle late in the match against the Ivory Coast in which he dazzled with a series of fine saves to deny the west Africans.
Midfielder Hamdy Fathy is questionable for Sunday’s match because of injury, but the remainder of the squad is healthy.
“Historically, Morocco are the better team, but we have a good chance if we play like we did against Ivory Coast,” said football commentator Sabry Sirag. “Salah was better against them than he was in the group matches. If he recaptures his Liverpool form on Sunday, things will be very different.”
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UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
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What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
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MORE ON TURKEY'S SYRIA OFFENCE
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The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
