This archive report was first published on 1 July 2019.
Published on July 1, 2019, by Charles Nyende.
The Africa Cup of Nations has been a spectacle of football, with teams from across the continent competing for the coveted title. One of the venues for the tournament is the 30 June Stadium in Egypt, a military facility that has been the home ground for Group 'C' matches involving Kenya, Tanzania, Algeria, and Senegal.
With a capacity of 30,000, the stadium is also the home ground of Egyptian Premier League side Pyramids FC. The facility was built by the Egyptian Air Defence Forces and is sometimes referred to as the 30 June Air Defence Forces Stadium.
While the stadium is mostly used for football matches, it also stages athletics meets. It is the main venue of the Air Defence Sport Village of Egypt.
One of the notable records set during the tournament was by Egypt's goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary, who became the oldest player at 44 years and 21 days to feature in the Africa Cup of Nations when the Pharaohs played Cameroon in the 2017 final in Libreville, Gabon.
On the other hand, Shiva N'zigou of Gabon holds the record for the youngest player to feature and score at the African tournament, playing at the age of 16 years and 93 days in the 2000 Nations Cup co-hosted by Nigeria and Ghana.
Kenya's youngest players in the tournament are John Avire, Joseph Okumu, and Farouk Shikalo, all aged 22 years, while the oldest is Dennis Onyango at 34 years.
As one travels through Egypt, they will notice the stark differences in culture and lifestyle compared to Kenya. For instance, shaving at a local barber in Kenya would cost anywhere between Sh50 to Sh200, but in Cairo, a simple clipping of the hair will see you charged 90 Egyptian Pounds (EGP) (about Sh563).
Additionally, the experience of getting a shave in Egypt is quite different from what Kenyans are accustomed to. After shaving, you can expect to be doused with an ice-cold towel, a sensation that takes some getting used to, especially in the heat of the day.
Another notable difference is the prevalence of plastic bags in Egypt. Unlike Kenya, which banned the use of plastic bags almost two years ago, everything in Cairo is wrapped in thin, plastic bags. From food to clothes to laundry, plastic bags are an integral part of Egyptian life.
