Under the tutelage of former US national team head coach Bob Bradley, Egypt are sitting pretty in World Cup qualifying in Africa.
Thanks to an 88th-minute penalty kick from veteran attacker Mohamed Aboutrika, Egypt topped Zimbabwe 2-1 on Tuesday in Group G play. The win ups the Pharoahs' record to 3-0-0 halfway through the second round of CAF qualifying, five points ahead of second-place Guinea.
Some 10,000 fans were on hand in Alexandria to see the victory under heavy security, the first time Egypt have played in front of a home crowd since the riots in Port Said Stadium last February in which 70 were killed.
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Bradley has become something of a folk hero in Egypt for sticking by the team during the difficult political times. Under the former MLS Coach of the Year, the Pharoahs are looking to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1990.
The 10 group winners in the CAF qualifying advance to the third round, in which each team is paired in a home-and-away tie. The five winners advance to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Since making his Egypt debut in November of 2011, Bradley has a 16W-4D-6L record through 26 total matches in all competitions and friendlies.
