Hundreds of euphoric fans welcomed home Egypt’s national football team on Friday after the country’s best-ever performance at the World Cup, which ended with a thrilling last-16 match against Argentina.
Event Context
A sea of fans dressed in red, white and black filled the grounds outside the airport, where the Pharaohs boarded an open-top bus for a parade through the coastal city.
Egypt tasted its first-ever win in the quadrennial extravaganza before reaching the round of 16 after beating Australia on penalties.
“They reached a stage they had never reached before and we are proud of them,” said Eyad Ahmed, another fan.
The Egyptian Football Association has also lodged a complaint against the officiating team from Tuesday’s match, with coach Hassan accusing officials of injustice despite FIFA refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina rejecting what he called “unfounded allegations”.
Player Focus
It was incredibly close to achieving one of the biggest upsets against Lionel Messi’s Argentina when it led 2-0 with just 11 minutes left. However, the defending champion staged an astonishing 3-2 comeback win.
But fans danced to the beat of drums, singing patriotic songs and wearing shirts bearing the name of captain Mohamed Salah. Many flashed banners which read: “You made us proud, men.”
Team Analysis
“We are very happy with the team,” said Mohamed Gehad. “Their spirit was high, and ours is also high as we welcome them.”
As the team’s bus pulled away from the airport, flags rippled above the crowd and supporters surged alongside the vehicle until it disappeared from view.
“I’ll do everything in my power to ensure this is a new beginning for Egyptian football on the international stage,” Salah wrote on social media during the celebrations.
Match Outlook
The players are expected to meet President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Saturday who, on social media, thanked the team for its “honourable performance”.