The return leg of the 2014 World Cup play-offs between Egypt and Ghana took place on November 19. The first leg saw Ghana dominating with a 6-1 victory. For Egypt to secure a place in the World Cup, they needed to win by a 5-0 margin—an almost impossible task. However, Bob Bradley, the coach of Egypt, expressed his determination to attempt the feat, acknowledging the difficulty but emphasizing the importance of defending the dignity of Egyptian football.
After the heavy defeat in the first leg, Bradley called on his stars, including Mohamed Salah and Mohamed Aboutrika, to play with the goal of upholding Egyptian football’s reputation. While the chances of qualifying were slim, the Egyptian team was determined to give their best in the return match at the Cairo Air Defense Stadium. The players were motivated to correct their image, even if the ultimate goal of reaching the World Cup seemed challenging.
