Hossam Abdelmaguid endured a painful late blow in Egypt’s match against New Zealand, with the defender forced off after an aerial challenge left his eye visibly affected.
The incident came in the closing minutes of the World Cup group-stage game, when the ball ricocheted into his face after an opponent headed it. FIFA’s doctors ordered Abdelmaguid to leave the pitch because the swelling made it difficult for him to see clearly.
Despite the scare, Egypt still went on to celebrate its first-ever World Cup win. The result also moved Egypt into the lead in Group G.
The moment that changed the final minutes
The injury happened during a contested ball in the air, turning a routine challenge into a worrying scene for Egypt. Abdelmaguid’s eye was left visibly affected, and the medical response came immediately.
A win that outweighed the setback
Even with one player forced out, Egypt finished the match with a landmark victory. The team’s first World Cup win carried extra weight because it also pushed them to the top of the group.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.