![Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi honors players of his country's national football team in Cairo, following their win over Congo and securing a place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, on 9 October,2017 [Egyptian President Office/Apaimages]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/091017_EPO_00-1.jpg?fit=1196%2C800&ssl=1)
![Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi honors players of his country's national football team in Cairo, following their win over Congo and securing a place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, on 9 October,2017 [Egyptian President Office/Apaimages]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/091017_EPO_00-6.jpg?w=1196&h=569&ssl=1 "091017_EPO_00 (6)")
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi honors players of his country’s national football team in Cairo, following their win over Congo and securing a place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, on 9 October,2017 [Egyptian President Office/Apaimages]
![Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi honors players of his country's national football team in Cairo, following their win over Congo and securing a place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, on 9 October,2017 [Egyptian President Office/Apaimages]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/091017_EPO_00-5.jpg?w=812&h=844&ssl=1 "Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi honors players of his country's national football team in Cairo, following their win over Congo and securing a place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia")
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi honors players of his country’s national football team in Cairo after securing a place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia on 9 October 2017 [Egyptian President Office/Apaimages]
![Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi honors players of his country's national football team in Cairo, following their win over Congo and securing a place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, on 9 October,2017 [Egyptian President Office/Apaimages]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/091017_EPO_00-4.jpg?w=380&h=346&ssl=1 "091017_EPO_00 (4)")
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi honors players of his country’s national football team in Cairo, following their win over Congo and securing a place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, on 9 October,2017 [Egyptian President Office/Apaimages]
![Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi honors players of his country's national football team in Cairo, following their win over Congo and securing a place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, on 9 October,2017 [Egyptian President Office/Apaimages]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/091017_EPO_00-3.jpg?w=380&h=236&ssl=1 "Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi honors players of his country's national football team in Cairo, following their win over Congo and securing a place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia")
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi honors players of his country’s national football team in Cairo, following their win over Congo and securing a place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, on 9 October,2017 [Egyptian President Office/Apaimages]
![Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi honors players of his country's national football team in Cairo, following their win over Congo and securing a place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, on 9 October,2017 [Egyptian President Office/Apaimages]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/091017_EPO_00-1.jpg?w=380&h=254&ssl=1 "Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi honors players of his country's national football team in Cairo, following their win over Congo and securing a place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia")
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi honors players of his country’s national football team in Cairo, following their win over Congo and securing a place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, on 9 October,2017 [Egyptian President Office/Apaimages]
![Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi honors players of his country's national football team in Cairo, following their win over Congo and securing a place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, on 9 October,2017 [Egyptian President Office/Apaimages]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/x.jpg?w=1196&h=797&ssl=1 "x")
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi honors players of his country’s national football team in Cairo, following their win over Congo and securing a place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, on 9 October,2017 [Egyptian President Office/Apaimages]