In a thrilling Group G encounter at BC Place in Vancouver, Egypt rallied from a one-goal deficit to defeat New Zealand 3-1, marking the fourth win for an African team in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Pharaohs’ comeback was fueled by strikes from Mostafa Ziko, Mohamed Salah, and Trezeguet, securing a vital three points.
Earlier in the tournament, Egypt had opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Belgium, showcasing their resilience. With this result, they join Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Morocco as the African nations to have tasted victory in the competition so far.
Ivory Coast set the pace by edging Ecuador 1-0 in their opener, followed by Ghana’s narrow 1-0 triumph over Panama. Morocco later added their name to the list with a 1-0 win against Scotland in Group C. Meanwhile, several other African sides, including Senegal, Cape Verde, DR Congo, Algeria, South Africa, and Tunisia, are still seeking their first win.