Egypt coach Hector Cuper has declared the Pharaohs’ readiness to qualify for both the Gabon 2017 Africa Cup of Nations and Russia 2018 World Cup.
The record seventh-time African champions are desperate to secure Gabon 2017 qualification after they failed to qualify for the last three editions of the finals – Equatorial Guinea and Gabon 2012, South Africa 2013 and Equatorial Guinea 2015.
Egypt have been in great form in the Gabon 2017 qualifiers, sitting top of Group G after picking up wins over Tanzania and Chad. Nigeria are second on four points.
The North Africans face a Gabon 2017 double-header against Nigeria next month, and Cuper maintains the Pharaohs will treat every game like a cup final. The Pharaohs are favourites to win the fixtures following Nigeria’s unimpressive performances in recent games.
Cuper, 60, said they would not underestimate any team in the qualifiers, saying they had learned some lessons from their shock 1-0 defeat by minnows Chad in their return leg Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier in Niamey last year. However, Egypt, who have not qualified for the World Cup since their group stage exit at Italia ’90 World Cup, progressed to the final round of Russia 2018 qualifiers 4-1 on aggregate.
“There is no such thing as easy opponents as journalists call them,” Cuper told FIFA.com on Tuesday.
“We must respect any team regardless of the ranking and history, because Egypt itself has suffered in the past qualifiers because it dropped points in what you call easy games.”
The former Inter Milan manager added, “I would be lying if I said that I don’t wish to avoid certain teams in the World Cup draw, but my job is to get Egypt prepared for any opponent. My job is to make the likes of Côte d’Ivoire, for instance, be worried that they will face us.
“I repeatedly tell my players that we can make people happy.”
The Eagles appear to be in disarray going into the encounters as Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh has come under intense pressure after the team crashed out of Rwanda 2016 African Nations Championship at the group stages.