According to Egyptian newspaper, Ahram, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has expressed its dismay over the disappearance of a number of old trophies from the Egyptian Football Association.
On Friday, the EFA announced that it had discovered the disappearance of some old trophies from its stores, affirming that it will investigate to locate them.
“The CAF has learned with shock reports about missing AFCON trophies from the Egyptian Football Association secretariat. Our doors are open and the EFA can count on our support in the search for the priceless memorabilia,” the CAF said in a statement on Sunday.
According to media reports, the original African Cup of Nations trophies that the Pharaohs won in 2006, 2008, 2010 are among the missing trophies.
The EFA discovered the trophies’ disappearance during their preparations to develop the association’s headquarters and to organise a trophy display while celebrating 100 years since the EFA’s establishment.
Sports ministry joins investigation
Egypt’s Sports Minister Ashraf Sobhy announced that there will be a ministerial committee arriving at the EFA headquarters to join the investigation into the disappearance of the old trophies.
“We will release a statement about the investigation soon,” Sobhy told a television programme late on Saturday.
The EFA said that it is looking into the possibility that the old trophies were lost when the building was looted and set on fire in 2013 when the Ultras fan group stormed the headquarters.
Egyptian football icons deny accusations
Former EFA board member Magdi Abdel-Ghani has said that the trophies disappeared in 2012 or 2013 when a number of Ultras members stormed the headquarters and set fire to the building.
“Ask Shawki Gharib [the assistant coach of Egypt’s national team at that time], as he was part of winning these trophies and he is also aware of managerial matters,” the former EFA board member told a television programme
