Egypt’s journey to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup remains a moment of immense pride and achievement in the nation’s sporting history. For a football-loving country that had faced numerous heartbreaks and near-misses, the elation of securing a spot on the grandest stage of international football in Russia was unparalleled.
The Road to Qualification
Egypt was drawn into Group E of the African zone qualifiers, alongside Uganda, Ghana, and Congo. The journey began favorably with a 2-1 victory over Congo. Mohammed Salah, who later emerged as a national hero, scored the decisive goals. The Egyptian team, invigorated by this promising start, followed up with a dominating 2-0 win against Ghana and a hard-fought victory over Uganda.
However, it was the penultimate match against Congo in Alexandria on October 8, 2017, that etched itself in the annals of Egyptian football lore. Needing a win to secure their World Cup ticket, tens of thousands packed the Borg El Arab Stadium, creating an electrifying atmosphere. The stakes were high, and the pressure palpable.
The dramatic climax saw Salah open the scoring, only for Congo to stun the crowd with a late equalizer. With Egypt’s World Cup dreams hanging