( CNN ) -- A few thousand Egyptian fans will watch their national soccer team continue its bid to end a long World Cup wait on Tuesday , but coach Bob Bradley says that a population of 85 million are praying for victory . His `` Pharaohs '' will take on Zimbabwe knowing that a win will put the side five points clear of second-placed Guinea and well on the way to reaching the final round of African qualification for Brazil 2014 . With the domestic league halted for a year after more than 70 fans were killed during a riot at a match last February , the American 's task of lifting the continent 's fallen soccer heavyweight has been fraught with problems on and off the pitch . Al Ahly , one of the clubs at the center of the Port Said tragedy , may have qualified for the Club World Cup by winning the continent 's Champions League title last year against all the odds , but Egypt failed to reach the Africa Cup of Nations -- a tournament it has won a record seven times . The country 's last World Cup finals appearance was in 1990 . `` When I accepted this mission I knew how hard the challenge was for me , '' former U.S. team boss Bradley told the African Football Confederation 's official website . `` Egypt is a big team , a champion in a transitional period where we are rebuilding the squad . Added to that is the current situation , and then came the Port Said incident and football activities were suspended . `` This made the mission even more difficult , but I never thought of abandoning it . All this stuff made me determined even more to achieve success with this team . '' Zimbabwe has just one point from two Group G games , while Egypt has six -- and Bradley 's mission was made easier when Guinea could only draw 0-0 with Mozambique on Sunday . `` When we faced Mozambique in match day one of the qualifiers behind closed doors , we felt as if we were not the home team , '' Bradley said . `` This time we 'll have a few thousands in the stands and 85 million outside praying for us to win . If it was possible most of these millions would be there in the stands . All the Egyptians want to see their national team in the World Cup finals after a 24-year absence . `` After Zimbabwe we have two more games in June and everything could happen . But I believe winning on Tuesday will open the door for us to win this group and qualify to the final qualifying round . There are no margins for error in this match . '' Bradley , who won over many doubters when he took an active interest in the Egyptian people 's struggles and protests following his arrival in September 2011 , believes his players can overcome their recent adversity -- especially now the domestic league has resumed . `` Those players are very strong , mentally and technically . Playing in the World Cup is the ultimate dream for all of them , either the young ones like Mohamed Salah and Mohamed El Nenny , or the veterans like Mohamed Abou Treika and Wael Gomaa who want to put the cherry on the top of their career by playing in the World Cup . '' Defender Ahmed Elmohamady hopes the presence of supporters will spur his team to victory . `` Recently we played either away or behind closed doors and that affected us much . Our supporters ' presence will be like magic and will motivate us to win this game , '' he said . `` I know only 30,000 fans can attend because of security measures , but still this is better than nothing . I hope to see 30,000 ones in full voice in the stands . '' Meanwhile , Ethiopia edged closer to a first World Cup finals appearance after beating Botswana 1-0 on Sunday thanks to a late goal from substitute Getaneh Kebede . It returned Ethiopia to the top of Group A , having surrendered the position when South Africa won 2-0 against Central African Republic on Saturday . Tunisia earned a third successive victory in Group B , beating second-placed Sierra Leone 2-1 to move five points clear . Morocco 's hopes of a fifth finals were hit by a 3-1 defeat against Tanzania , which allowed the home team to close to within a point of unbeaten Group C leader Ivory Coast after three matches . Zambia dropped its first points in Group D , being held 1-1 in Lesotho while second-placed Ghana closed to within a point with a 4-0 win at home to Sudan . Burkina Faso beat Niger 4-0 for its first win in Group E , where three teams all have three points but Congo leads the way with a 100 % record following Saturday 's 1-0 win over Gabon . African champion Nigeria was caught at the top of Group F on Saturday after snatching a 1-1 draw with Kenya , as Malawi also moved up to five points with a 1-0 win away to Namibia . Mali leads Group H by two points following Sunday 's 2-1 win over bottom team Rwanda , while Libya 's bid to overhaul Group I leader Cameroon was thwarted in a 0-0 draw away to Democratic Republic of Congo . Liberia closed to within a point of Group J leader Senegal with a 2-0 win at home to Uganda . Senegal drew 1-1 in Angola on Saturday in a match moved to Guinea due to crowd trouble in Dakar last year .
Egypt fans allowed to attend World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe in Alexandria . Previous home match was played behind closed doors due to security fears . ` ` Pharaohs '' seeking to qualify for World Cup finals for first time since 1990 . Egypt 's 0 - 0 draw with Zimbabwe gives Bob Bradley 's team to extend play .