“The President wished the national team success at the World Cup, saying that he believed they were aware of the responsibility that fell on their shoulders and asked all the members of the delegation to do everything possible in order to make the people of Egypt happy [with Egypt’s results at the tournament],” el-Sisi said, as quoted in a statement released by his office.

On Saturday, the president held a meeting with the national football team, which will travel to Russia on Sunday ahead of the World Cup.

Egypt have been drawn in Group A and will play Uruguay in Yekaterinburg on June 15, hosts Russia in St. Petersburg on June 19 and Saudi Arabia in Volgograd on June 25.

Around 20 thousand fans are expected to come to Russia from Egypt to support their team during the tournament