The draw of the Amputee football African Cup of Nations, to be held from 19-29 April 2024, which took place in Cairo last week, witnessed Egypt falling in the first group which also includes teams of Cameroon, Nigeria, and Burundi, noting that the opening match will be held between Egypt and Nigeria.
Second group comprised of teams of Liberia, Morocco, Uganda and Senegal while third group included Ghana, Kenya, Gambia and Algeria. Angola, Tanzania, Sierra Leone and Rwanda fell in group four.
According to George Schalchten, Executive Director of the African Confederation and Secretary General of the International Federation of Amputee Football, the groups were made according to previous achievements and participation in the previous international events while Egypt was place in group one as being the host country of the event.
The draw ceremony was attended by Dr. Hossam Eldin Mustafa, President of the Egyptian Paralympic Committee (EPC), Celeste Chiamma, Vice-President of the International Federation of the Game, Mohamed Adel Hosni, Chairman of the Amputee Football Committee at the EPC, Sarah Samir Al-Maayergy, Vice-President of the Amputee Football Committee, George Schalchten, Executive Director of the African Confederation and Secretary General of the International Federation of the Game, Khaled Abdel Hafeez, Treasurer of the African Confederation, and the Egyptian amputee football national team headed by Abdullah Sheka, founder of the game and captain of the national team.
Sheka expressed,” I am very excited and I can’t believe it that we are hosting the African Cup of Nations. It was a dream that came true. Mohamed Adel Hosni has promised us that very soon we will host the Cup and even the World Cup one day and what he promised was fulfilled. We as players are very excited and ready to compete. It is a golden chance for us to get in contact with strong teams from Africa and exchange experiences with other well-built national teams. I promise you all that we will do our best to be up to the challenge and collect a medal.”
Zaher Shebl, striker of the Egyptian national team, said,” It I an honor and a duty for us Egyptian players to be able to host the event and compete in front of our homeland fans. We will do our best.”
On the other hand, Dr. Hossam Eldin Mustafa, announced during the press conference that Egypt will bid to host the coming Amputee Football World Cup in 2026 as no country has bidden yet to host the event.
He also added that he will invite to the African Cup of Nations, the President of the FIFA to attend either the opening ceremony or the closing one in addition to the CAF President. He also went on to say that the African Cup of Nations is an important event as it will allow the three top placed African teams the chance to take part in the 2026 World Cup.
He also went on to say that the Egyptian Paralympic Committee will work hand in hand with the Egyptian Football federation and the President of the Egyptian football federation will be attending the Amputee African Cup of Nations.
“My target is to include the Amputee Football at the International Paralympic Committee and to have it as part of the Brisbane 2032 Paralympic Games program,” added Mustafa.
