Scandal: Italian woman accuses Egyptian player of sexual assault

An Egyptian national team player has come under serious scrutiny following allegations made by an Italian woman, just days before Egypt’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Group G alongside Belgium, New Zealand, and Iran.

The woman publicly announced on Friday that she has initiated legal proceedings against Egyptian international midfielder Nabil Emad, popularly known as “Dunga,” who currently plays for Al-Najma in Saudi Arabia. She alleges that the player sexually assaulted her in an incident said to have occurred in July 2025.

According to her account shared via Instagram, the incident began after she was invited to dinner by the player through social media. She stated that she initially declined the invitation but later agreed to meet him “after great insistence.”

She further claimed that the meeting later shifted from a public setting to a private gathering at his residence, where he was reportedly accompanied by friends. The woman alleged that she was given a drink that caused her to lose consciousness.

“I gave her a drink that made me lose consciousness completely, and when I woke up I was surprised to find him trying to assault me against my will. Despite my strong and repeated refusal, I could not resist him because of the effect of the drink that made me lose my strength, and after he finished, he moved me to another room,” the statement attributed to her read.

She added that the alleged incident had left her with severe psychological consequences, including “severe panic, ongoing trauma, and post-traumatic stress disorder.”

The woman also stated that she had already taken legal action in July and described the player’s continued involvement with the national team as “a disgrace to the Egyptian national team,” while calling for public support in her case.

In contrast, Cairo 24 reported that the player’s lawyer, Shaaban Saeed, has strongly denied the allegations, claiming there is a campaign aimed at damaging the player’s reputation due to alleged attempts at financial blackmail.

The case has sparked attention given its timing, coming just before Egypt’s World Cup campaign, although no official ruling or legal conclusion has been made at this stage.