Egyptians Vent After World Cup Loss

Egyptian football fans gather on a street coffee shop to watch the last match between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, June 25, 2018, during World Cup 2018, in Cairo’s Shubra district.

A blind man among the fans watching the match between Egypt and Saudi Arabia listens to the commentator in Shubra, Cairo, Egypt. Fans knew their team, disqualified, would go home after the match but many chose to stay and watch until the end.

The game is lost, but the exuberance remains. A fan explains to his friends how wrong moves led to Egypt’s defeat.

Adel, 42, enjoys a smoke as his country’s team loses its third and final match in the World Cup 2018 in Russia.

Mohamed Mokh, a waiter at a cafe where fans watch World Cup matches, sees a silver lining: “Our boss had said no days off or vacation during any matches involving Arab teams. I’m happy they are all losing. In few days I can go to the beach.” 

Fan Amr Abdulrahman,says “I don’t know why we lost to the Saudis.”

After Egypt’s disqualification in Russia, Egyptian football fans watch a press conference at the headquarters of the Eyptian Football Association, where EFA President Hani Abo Rida explains the shortcomings of the team and its sponsors.

Sports reporter Wael Abbas, like many in Egypt, blames the national team’s loss on its manager. “I don’t think Hector Cuper was the right choice for the Russia World Cup 2018.” The Egypt Football Association sacked Cuper and is looking for a replacement.

Younan works at Saman Alkharaz monastery and maintains its football pitch. “As a Coptic Christians we love our country very much.” But he lack of diversity on the Egyptian team is an issue. “What breaks our heart is that in a team of 40 we don’t see at least one Christian.”

Coptic Christian teams play a football match inside Saman’s Monastery eastern Cairo. Coptic Christians have set up their own teams after complaining that prejudice has for years kept them out of Egypt’s mainstream football clubs.

Nader Ashraf, 20, watches his friends play. “I have tried to join famous football clubs.” The discrimination was not subtle. “I went for many tryouts and more than once, the jury complimented my performance but when I said I am a Christian, they said ‘Sorry, we cannot take you.’” 

Nader Ashraf shows a picture of his championship trophy while playing with a Coptic team. “The only place that is welcoming Christian football players is the church, but the church’s potential to sponsor a (major) football team is very poor.”

“It is very hard for me when I keep training and working to improve my performance while knowing that I do not have any future in (mainstream) football,” Nader Ashraf said. “Football is so time consuming.”

A player scores a goal in a match between two Coptic teams at a monastery in Manshyat Nasser Eastern Cairo.