Mostafa Shobeir admitted Egypt were left counting the cost of poor fortune after their 1-0 defeat by Senegal ended the Pharaohs’ hopes of reaching the Africa Cup of Nations final.
Speaking moments after the final whistle, the Egypt goalkeeper cut a crestfallen figure as he reflected on a narrow loss that condemned his side to contest the third-place play-off rather than Sunday’s showpiece.
“We wished to make the fans happy, but this is God’s management, luck was not on our side in today’s Senegal match,” Shobeir said. “The players tried their best today, but luck wasn’t on our side, and that’s why we lost.”
The semi-final was settled by a solitary goal, scored by Sadio Mané, which proved enough to carry Senegal into the final.
For Egypt, it was a night of frustration, with promising passages of play failing to translate into the breakthrough they desperately sought.
Shobeir’s comments reflected the mood inside the Pharaohs’ camp after a performance he described as honest but ultimately unrewarded.
Egypt struggled to impose themselves for long spells, and although they pushed forward in search of an equaliser, they were unable to find a way past a disciplined Senegal defence.
The goalkeeper was keen to stress the effort made by his team-mates, underlining that the result did not stem from a lack of commitment.
His words, “The players tried their best today,” were repeated with emphasis, as if to reassure supporters that the exit was not for want of endeavour.
Mané’s decisive strike not only booked Senegal’s place in the final but also came with added significance, as the forward indicated it would be his last appearance in an Africa Cup of Nations final.
The goal thus carried emotional weight for both sides: jubilation for Senegal, and heartbreak for Egypt.
For the Pharaohs, the defeat marked a painful interruption to their campaign.
Having navigated the earlier rounds with resilience, they entered the semi-final believing a place in the final was within reach.
Instead, a single moment swung the contest away from them, leaving players and staff to reflect on what might have been.
Shobeir’s tone remained composed despite the disappointment.
His references to fate and fortune suggested a belief that the outcome was shaped by factors beyond the team’s control.
“This is God’s management,” he said, framing the loss within a broader perspective that is often heard in moments of sporting despair.
Attention now turns to the bronze-medal match, where Egypt will seek to salvage pride after missing out on the title decider.
While the pain of the semi-final defeat is still raw, Shobeir’s remarks hinted at a squad determined not to let the tournament end on a sour note.
The goalkeeper’s reflections offered a glimpse into the emotional toll of the evening.
As he spoke, the sense was not only of a match lost, but of a dream deferred — a chance to reach the final slipping away in the narrowest of margins.
In the end, Egypt were left with regrets and the feeling that the balance of the contest had tipped against them.
For Shobeir, the explanation was simple and painful: effort was there, belief was there, but, on this occasion, luck was not.
