Mission impossible for team Egypt?

The Egyptian national football team faces Ghana in Cairo in its final chance to qualify for next summer’s World Cup 2014 in Brazil. Dubbed by many sports critics as “mission impossible,” Egypt needs to win by a total of five goals to qualify for Brazil Egypt suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Ghana last October in Kumasi, the match ending with a 6-1 win by Ghana.

Egypt’s coach, Bob Bradley, promised the press this week that his team will not embarrass their fans in the upcoming match and will restore Egyptian football’s dignity. Today’s match, scheduled to start at 6 pm local time, will be Bradley’s last with Egypt as his contract expires this month. The Egyptian Football Federation has announced it will be hiring a new coach.

Fans are expected to attend today’s match at Cairo’s 30 June Stadium. It marks the first time the public has been allowed to attend an international football game since the Port Said stadium massacre in February 2012. Seventy-two Al Ahly club fans were killed after Al Masry fans, who greatly outnumbered the Ahly supporters, stormed the pitch and attacked them.

In the months since, Egypt has been rocked by insecurity. Ghana had earlier requested a change in venue for the second and deciding game against Egypt. On Monday the Ghana Football Association said it had reviewed Egypt’s security plan for the match and were satisfied with the arrangements.

The Egyptian league is expected to restart by the end of this month. Due to continued security concerns, it has not yet been announced whether or not fans will be allowed to attend games.