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Egyptian cyclist pedals to Russia to support team in World Cup

Egyptian cyclist pedals to Russia to support team in World Cup
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In this picture taken with low shutter speed, Mohammed Nufal, 24, rides his bicycle as he begins his long-haul journey to Russia in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP)
Egyptian cyclist pedals to Russia to support team in World Cup
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Mohammed Nufal, 24, hugs his mother as he begins his long-haul journey to Russia, from Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP)
Egyptian cyclist pedals to Russia to support team in World Cup
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Mohammed Nufal, 24, is surrounded by cameramen as he begins his long-haul journey to Russia, from Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP)
Egyptian cyclist pedals to Russia to support team in World Cup
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Mohammed Nufal, 24, rides his bicycle past the famed lion statues on Qasr El-Nile bridge in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP)
Egyptian cyclist pedals to Russia to support team in World Cup
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In this picture taken with low shutter speed, Mohammed Nufal, 24, rides his bicycle as he crosses Qasr El-Nile bridge, in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP)
Egyptian cyclist pedals to Russia to support team in World Cup
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Mohammed Nufal, 24, is greeted by his supporters as he begins his long-haul journey to Russia in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP)
Updated 07 April 2018

Egyptian cyclist pedals to Russia to support team in World Cup

Egyptian cyclist pedals to Russia to support team in World Cup
  • The trip taken by Mohammed Nufal will take 65 days to complete
  • Nufal will cover 5,000 kilometers on his epic journey through seven countries

CAIRO: An Egyptian cyclist has set off on Saturday from the heart of downtown Cairo heading to Moscow to support Egypt’s national soccer team in the World Cup.
Mohammed Nufal, 24, embarked on the long-haul journey from the famed Tahrir Square and is planning to traverse seven countries across three continents including Jordan, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine. Nufal said he will only take a flight from Jordan to Bulgaria to bypass war-torn Syria.
“The languages are among the biggest challenges,” Nufal told The Associated Press. “I will deal with that using translation apps and sign language.”
He expects the weather to be bearable during the trek.
According to his official Facebook page, Nufal said his trip would take 65 days covering a distance of some 5,000 kilometers (3,160 miles). He expects to take nine days to travel 800 kilometers in Egypt alone, where his last stop will be in south Sinai’s Nuweiba, before heading to Jordan.
Nufal had previously biked for 70 days to Gabon, passing through Chad, Sudan and Cameroon.
Egypt qualified for this year’s World Cup for the first time since 1990.