Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt salvaged a crucial point in the 2025 Arab Cup after a dramatic 1–1 draw with the United Arab Emirates on Saturday evening at Lusail Stadium, keeping the team’s chances of advancing to the knockout stages alive.
The match, part of the second round of the group stage, started cautiously, with both sides prioritizing defensive organization over early attacking risks. Egypt dominated possession for long spells but struggled to break down the Emirati back line, which maintained discipline and compactness throughout the first half.
The deadlock was broken in the 60th minute when UAE forward Caio Canedo converted a well-worked move, putting his team ahead and briefly lifting Emirati hopes of a rebound in the competition after their opening-round loss to Jordan. The goal forced Egypt into a more aggressive posture as the Pharaohs pushed numbers forward, searching for an equalizer.
Egypt’s persistence finally paid off in the 85th minute. Substitute Marwan Hamdy rose above the defense to power home a decisive header, leveling the score and injecting renewed momentum into Egypt’s campaign. The goal shifted the rhythm of the match, and Egypt nearly completed a full comeback.
In stoppage time, winger Mido Gaber found the net with what looked like a dramatic winner in the 90+1 minute. But celebrations were short-lived: the assistant referee flagged for offside, and VAR confirmed the decision, leaving the scoreline unchanged.
The draw leaves Egypt with two points from two matches, placing the team second in Group C. The UAE, meanwhile, earned their first point of the tournament after their initial defeat to Jordan.
Egypt now faces a decisive final group-stage match against Jordan, who have already secured qualification to the quarterfinals after collecting six points from victories over the UAE and Kuwait. The Pharaohs must win to guarantee progression, while any slip could open the door for either Kuwait or the UAE to challenge for second place.
After two rounds, Group C stands as follows:
- Jordan – 6 points
- Egypt – 2 points
- UAE – 1 point
- Kuwait – 1 point
With Egypt’s future in the tournament now hinging on their clash with the high-flying Jordanian side, the final group-stage match promises high stakes, drama, and little margin for error.
