Head coach of the Egypt Olympic football team, Rogerio Micale, commented on the Egyptian Olympic campaign after the victory over Uzbekistan.
The Young Pharaohs beat Uzbekistan to near qualification to the quarter-finals of the 2024 Paris Olympics as they currently sit second behind Spain.
Ahmed Nabil Kouka, who missed the opening game due to injury, scored the game’s only goal and the Pharaohs now need a point a point against Spain or for the Dominican Republic not to win in their final game against Uzbekistan to advance in France.
Speaking to the media center of the Egyptian Football Association, Micale said: “The team’s fighting spirit played a pivotal role in winning against a strong team like Uzbekistan, a generation that represents their country’s project in football and has been equipped for four years.
“Our team was at the best of expectations and performed well and won the three points necessary to achieve our goal of qualifying for the second round,” the Brazilian coach added.
Micale said that the games were not as easy as people thought they would be: “We faced many obstacles in the Dominican Republic and Uzbekistan matches, but the courage of the players was the key not to lose.
“The pressure was the reason why we did not look good in the first game and we remedied that against Uzbekistan.
“We will continue to fight and defend our dreams and I hope to reach the farthest point in the Olympics. I expect the Spain match to be difficult because we seek to present an image worthy of Egyptian football in front of the world.”
Micale also thanked the media because of the way they dealt with the Egyptian Olympic campaign ” I send a message of appreciation for all media members and social media because of the way they dealt with the Olympic National team and how their way have impacted the players positively in their mission”
Egypt meet Spain in the final group game on Tuesday 30 July 2024 at 4 PM CET. At the same time, the third-placed Dominican Republic meets already-eliminated Uzbekistan.