Artists, soccer players and media stars are supporting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s candidacy for a second term in the presidential elections scheduled for March 26-28. Artists’ syndicates and sports clubs called on the Egyptian voters to support Sisi and promote the “achievements” during his first term that began in June 2014.

“Kolina Maak Men Agl Masr” ("We Support You For Egypt’s Sake") association, founded on Oct. 30, 2017, by a group of artists to support Sisi’s election for a second term, held a conference in November in the presence of artists and public figures.

On Jan. 22, the Egyptian Football Association, headed by Hany Abo Rida, held a conference at the association’s headquarters in Cairo in the presence of the managers of soccer clubs, notably the chairman of Al-Ahly Club, Mahmoud al-Khatib, to back Sisi’s candidacy. Several soccer players and managers of soccer clubs such as Al-Ahly and Al-Zamalek endorsed Sisi’s candidacy for a second term and appeared in recorded videos to talk about his achievements during his first term.

Sisi announced his candidacy in a speech Jan. 19 on the official state TV channel, and his campaign submitted his official candidacy papers Jan. 24, including more than 175,000 public endorsements and more than 500 endorsements from members of parliament.