Egypt coach urges support for Palestine before match

Cairo – Egypt’s national team coach, Rui Vitoria, used the pre‑match press conference ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Sudan on Thursday to call for renewed international support for the Palestinian people. Vitoria, addressing journalists from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Egyptian Football Association, highlighted the humanitarian challenges faced by Palestinians and urged the football community to leverage its global platform to raise awareness and pressure for a peaceful resolution.

The coach’s remarks came as Egypt prepares for its final qualifying fixture, with the team currently positioned third in Group E. While Vitoria emphasized that the upcoming match would be decided on the field, he reiterated that sport can serve as a conduit for solidarity, urging fans, officials and sponsors to consider humanitarian initiatives alongside their competitive commitments. Egypt’s football federation confirmed that the team will observe a moment of silence before kickoff, aligning with the broader call for empathy and action regarding the ongoing conflict.