Johannesburg, 19 June-(ANA)-South Africa's World Cup test run has been hit by a robbery at the Egyptian team hotel in Johannesburg.
Local police are investigating the theft of some US$2,400 from the rooms of five unnamed players.
The cash was taken while the Pharaohs were beating World Cup winners Italy 1-0 on Thursday in a Confederations Cup group match.
The Egyptian delegation had been staying at Johannesburg's Protea Wanderers Hotel.
"Five players have reported a case of theft, with the total sums lost amounting to US$2,400," Thembi Nkhwashu, a spokesperson for the Gauteng South African Police Services, said.
"The period when the money could have disappeared is from the time they left the hotel for the match until this morning when we were notified."
Nkwashu refused to be drawn on whether the matter could have been an internal problem, but did say that the players had lacked responsibility in looking after their money.
The theft will come as a blow to South African organisers, who are staging the eight-team Confederations Cup as a test event ahead of Africa's first World Cup next year.
"Our stay in South Africa has been great and everyone has been very hospitable, so this is a very unfortunate event," Mahmoud Taher, the head of Egypt's delegation, told reporters.
"There was some negligence on the players' part, leaving the money in drawers, and they'll be getting firm instructions for next time."
"It's not an issue which we want to create too many problems over but the Local Organising Committee has been informed." (ANA)
Sudan/Ethiopia