Egypt Forward Zico Expresses Disappointment Over Referee Decisions
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Mostafa Zico criticized referee François Letexier after Egypt’s dramatic 3-2 Round of 16 defeat against Argentina.
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Egypt’s national football team exited the 2026 World Cup after a dramatic 3-2 loss to defending champions Argentina in the Round of 16. Following the match, Egypt forward Mostafa Zico criticized the refereeing, calling the decisions unfair.
"Not fair, not fair. The referee [François Letexier] was the reason for the defeat," Zico said during a post-match television interview.
A Dramatic Match at Atlanta Stadium
The Pharaohs played exceptionally well and held a strong 2-0 lead until the 80th minute. However, Argentina made a late comeback, scoring three goals in the final minutes of the game to secure their spot in the quarter-finals.
"The referee's decisions were against us. I want to congratulate Argentina as they are going to win the World Cup," Zico added.
Expressing his sadness for the fans, the forward said, "We apologise to the Egyptian people because we had hoped to make them happy."
Egypt's 2026 World Cup Campaign
Egypt showed great determination throughout the tournament. Here is a look at their journey in the competition:
- The Pharaohs started their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Belgium.
- They secured a confident 3-1 victory over New Zealand.
- Egypt finished second in Group G after a 1-1 draw with Iran.
- In the knockout stage, Egypt defeated Australia 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time.
Meanwhile, Argentina reached the Round of 16 after a 3-2 extra-time win against Cape Verde before facing Egypt.
AI contributed to the creation of this article.