Egyptian children take to the dusty streets to emulate football hero Mohamed Salah - in pictures

It's been a fantastic week for Egyptian football

Children play football on a dusty field in Cairo, Egypt. Reuters

Children play football on a dusty field in Cairo, Egypt. Reuters

Children play football on a dusty field in Cairo, Egypt. Reuters

Children play football on a dusty field in Cairo, Egypt. Reuters

A child plays a game of football at the graveyards (City of the Dead) called locally "Zawiyyet al-Mayyiteen" in Minya Governorate, Upper Egypt. Reuters

A child controls the ball during a game of football at the graveyards. Reuters

Children play football on a dusty field in Cairo, Egypt. Reuters

Children play football at the graveyards. Reuters

Children play football at the graveyards. Reuters

Children play football at the graveyards. Reuters

One of the great attractions of football is that it can largely be played anywhere - car park, beach, garden or even alleyway.

So for children in Egypt, the majority of whom do not have access to the perfectly manicured lawns of other more developed nations around the world, they have to make do with whatever space they can find.

But just because their pitch may consist of a dusty field or wasteland doesn't mean their passion for the beautiful game is dimmed, as can be seen from the pictures above.

And there has been an extra reason for football followers in Egypt to be cheerful this week.

First, it was announced that Egypt will replace Cameroon as the host of this year's Africa Cup of Nations finals, the Confederation of African Football.

Egypt only entered the running to host the tournament when fellow north African country Morocco announced they would not bid to do so.

This will be the fourth time Egypt has hosted the continental championship and first since 2006, when they beat Ivory Coast on penalties in the final.

Then, there was a further boost when Liverpool's Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah, a hero to millions across the Arab world, was voted as the African Footballer of the Year for the second time on the trot.

_____________

Read more:

WATCH: Mohamed Salah dances after accepting African Footballer of the Year award

Egypt beats South Africa to host 2019 Africa Cup of Nations

Egypt the right choice as late replacement hosts for 2019 African Cup of Nations