Egypt breathed new life into their Paris 2024 Olympic campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Uzbekistan on their second matchday of the men’s football tournament on Saturday.
The win has reignited the Pharaohs’ hopes of reaching the quarter-finals.
The all-important goal came from Ahmed Nabil Koka, whose strike proved to be the difference between the two sides.
This crucial win has propelled Egypt to second place in Group C, setting up a tantalising clash with group leaders Spain in their final group stage match.
Egypt’s performance showed marked improvement from their opening day draw against the Dominican Republic. The team displayed more cohesion and attacking intent, with Koka’s goal the reward for their improved play.
Meanwhile, in the group’s other match, Spain secured their place in the quarter-finals with a convincing win over the Dominican Republic at the Stade de Bordeaux on Saturday.
This result means the upcoming Spain-Egypt clash will be pivotal in determining who joins the Spaniards in the knockout stages.
For Uzbekistan, this defeat leaves their Olympic dreams hanging by a thread. They will need a significant turnaround in fortunes in their final group game if they are to have any chance of progressing.