Egypt's Sisi turns to soccer to score political goal

Though a cynical view holds that Cairo was using the national soccer team as a way to distract the people from their country's challenges, its support for Egypt's team at the Africa Cup of Nations has helped rally Egyptians together.
Football Soccer - African Cup of Nations - Final - Egypt v Cameroon - Stade d'AngondjÈ - Libreville, Gabon - 5/2/17 Egypt fans before the match Reuters / Amr Abdallah Dalsh Livepic - RTX2ZPUB
Egypt fans hold up a poster of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi before their country's national soccer team takes on Cameroon in the finals of the Africa Cup of Nations in Libreville, Gabon, Feb. 5, 2017. - Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
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David Awad
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President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi greeted the Egyptian national soccer team at the Cairo International Airport upon its arrival from Gabon, where it placed second in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), losing to Cameroon.

“Please keep your heads held high. We salute you. You made Egypt and the Arab nation proud,” Sisi said as he received the team Feb. 6.

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