Egypt bows out of the Arab Cup in embarrassing fashion, slumping to a 3–0 defeat against a Jordan side made up almost entirely of substitutes.
Jordan had already secured top spot in the group and rotated heavily, yet still cruised to victory thanks to goals from Mohammad Abu Hashish, Mohammad Abu Zraiq, and Ali Alwan.
Egypt went into the match needing a win by any margin to reach the knockout stage. Instead, they finished third in the group with just two points from two draws against Kuwait and the UAE, plus this defeat to Jordan.
Jordan advanced with a perfect nine points, while the UAE claimed second place on four points.
First-half collapse
Jordan started on the front foot, pressing high as Egypt sat deep and invited pressure. In the 4th minute, goalkeeper Mohamed Bassam had to bail his side out after a poor error from Yassin Marei.
The pressure continued, with Akram Tawfik forced into an important clearance on seven minutes. Tawfik then produced Egypt’s first half-chance in the 13th minute, sneaking forward for a shot that went tamely into the keeper’s hands.
Egypt’s best opportunity of the half fell to Mahmoud Hamdy “El Wensh” in the 17th minute, but his header was denied by an excellent save, keeping Jordan’s clean sheet intact.
Just two minutes later, Jordan punished Egypt. Mohammad Abu Hashish fired a powerful strike past Bassam in the 19th minute to make it 1–0.
Egypt tried to respond through Islam Issa, who went close with a fierce drive in the 28th minute after a knockdown from Marwan Hamdy, but his effort flew over the bar. Issa had another go in the 34th minute, only to send a weak shot straight at the goalkeeper.
Jordan doubled their lead in style in the 41st minute, when Mohammad Abu Zraiq curled a strike into the far corner beyond Bassam’s reach, leaving Egypt 2–0 down at the break.
Second half, same story
Coach Helmy Toulan rang the changes at halftime, introducing Hossam Hassan and Mohamed Elneny for Mohamed Magdy “Afsha” and Ghannam Mohamed in an attempt to rescue the game.
Jordan thought they had a third in the 50th minute, only for VAR to rule it out for handball. That reprieve almost sparked an Egyptian response.
In the 54th minute, Hossam Hassan wasted a big chance to pull one back, sending a header over the bar with the goalkeeper stranded. Just a minute later, Marwan Hamdy was denied by the woodwork, his powerful shot from outside the box hit the left post.
However, the short-lived surge from Egypt faded, and Jordan regained control. In the 90th minute, a reckless challenge from Yassin Marei conceded a penalty. Ali Alwan calmly converted from the spot to make it 3–0 and seal a humbling defeat for the Pharaohs.
Egypt leave the Arab Cup without a single win and outplayed by the Jordan B team, a brutal reminder of how far short they fell of even basic expectations.