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Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) – Dr. Hassan Mustafa, president of the International Handball Federation, revealed that former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak asked him to facilitate the victory of the French team over their Egyptian competitor during the World Cup 2001.
Mustafa’s remarks came on the sidelines of the Handball World Cup (men’s) draw held at the Giza pyramids on Saturday night.
Mustafa said he told former French President Jacques Chirac that his Egyptian counterpart, Hosni Mubarak, contacted him and said, “The French are our loved ones,” and asked him to “get lost” and facilitate France’s victory over Egypt. in the semi-final match of the 2001 Handball World Cup.
Mustafa indicated that at that time he had assumed the presidency of the International Handball Federation two months before the tournament.
Mustafa stated that Mubarak asked him to do so because of his good relationship with Chirac.
At the time, France beat Egypt 24-21, before winning the championship title after defeating Sweden in the final match.
The president of the International Handball Federation said that the president of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, intends to attend the 27th edition of the tournament, which will be hosted by Egypt from January 14 to 31, 2021.
He expressed his hope that the tournament will be “a bright spot at the end of the dark tunnel in light of the Corona pandemic.”
The two artists Khaled Al-Nabawi and Engy Al-Muqaddam presented the World Cup draw, amid praise for the level of organization of the ceremony, especially since it featured the participation of Egyptian musician Omar Khairat.
And Egypt was tied in Group G with its arch enemy (Sweden), in addition to the Czech Republic.
The tournament, which includes 32 teams instead of 24, will be held for the first time in 4 main stadiums, distributed between Cairo Stadium Hall, New Administrative Capital Hall, 6 October Hall and Burj Al Arab Hall.
