By Karim Were
For nearly a century, Egypt’s football fans had waited for a World Cup victory. On Sunday, that long and painful wait finally came to an end as the Pharaohs secured a historic win on the global stage, ending a 92-year drought that had haunted generations of supporters.
The breakthrough moment came under immense pressure, with the hopes of an entire nation resting on the shoulders of captain Mohamed Salah. Every touch from the Liverpool forward was met with deafening cheers from Egyptian fans, and when the decisive moment arrived, Salah delivered once again.
His goal, the 68th of his international career, not only secured Egypt’s landmark World Cup triumph but also moved him within one strike of Hassan Hassan’s national scoring record. More importantly, it helped erase one of the country’s most painful football memories.
Former Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou praised the significance of Salah’s contribution, highlighting how the team’s star player rose to the occasion when it mattered most.
“If there was any doubt about Mo’s impact on this team, you can still see it,” Postecoglou told ITV. “They had to deal with adversity and their big player stood up. That gives a team enormous belief.”
Former Jamaica international Jobi McAnuff echoed those sentiments, saying Salah answered his country’s call at a crucial moment.
The victory represents a major milestone for Egyptian football. While the nation enjoyed continental dominance between 2006 and 2010 with three consecutive Africa Cup of Nations titles, success on the world stage had remained elusive.
Salah’s generation has endured heartbreak, including defeats in the Africa Cup of Nations finals in 2017 and 2021. The forward has also faced personal setbacks, most notably the shoulder injury suffered before the 2018 World Cup, an incident that sparked concern across Egypt and even drew attention from senior government officials.
Despite his remarkable achievements at club level with Liverpool, international silverware has remained out of reach for Salah. This victory may not deliver a trophy, but it offers something equally significant: a place in Egyptian football history.
For Egypt, Sunday was about more than three points. It was the end of a 92-year wait, the lifting of a national burden, and a moment that will be reme
mbered for generations.
