Gazans Celebrate Egypt's African Cup Win

Published today (updated) 01/02/2010 13:35

Gaza - Ma'an -

Palestinian football fans in Gaza celebrated Egypt's winning of the seventh African Cup of Nations on Sunday evening.

Shortly after the referee blew his whistle, confirming Egypt's win over Ghana 1-0, hundreds of Gazan men and women took to the streets to celebrate Egypt's championship hattrick, and their seventh overall win. Gaza City's main streets overflowing with Palestinians rejoicing in Egypt's football victory.

In a rare display, Palestinians waved Egyptian and Palestinian flags, and photographs of Egypt's top scorer, Muhammad Giddo, goalie Issam Al-Hadari, coach Hasan Shahata, known as "the boss," and Muhammad Abu Treika who, after scoring against Sudan in 2008, lifted his uniform to reveal the now-famous "Sympathize with Gaza" t-shirt.

Despite Gaza's blackout, the result of limited fuel being allowed to enter the besieged coastal enclave, cars' headlights and hand-held lamps light up the Square of the Unknown Soldier, where gatherers chanted "long live Egypt" and "we are all Egyptians."

"What delights Egypt delights Palestine because we have relatives, affinities, neighborhood , and blood ties with the Egyptians," said Mahmoud Tarabulsi, 28, one of the gatherers.

Sharifa Siyam, 26, said that the Egyptian football stars deserved to be crowned for the third consecutive time. She applauded Muhammad Giddo, who scored the only goal in the match.

Israel's Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer phoned Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and congratulated him on behalf of Israel on the win, the Hebrew-language daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported. Mubarak thanked him and said he was touched by the gesture, Ben-Eliezer reportedly indicated.

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