Egypt's soccer team gets a warm welcome home after World Cup loss

EL-ALAMEIN, Egypt (AP) — Thousands of fans turned out to greet Egypt’s national soccer team on its return home Friday after its World Cup adventure ended with a 3-2 loss to Argentina in the knockout stage of the tournament.

Crowds gathered at the el-Alamein airport, waving photos of star player Mohamed Salah and holding signs celebrating the team’s achievements as they cheered the players’ return.

Egypt made it to the last 16 teams in the tournament for the first time after beating Australia 4-2 on penalty kicks, led by Salah.

The players are expected to meet Saturday with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, who thanked the team in a Facebook statement on Tuesday “for their honorable performance and for achieving an unprecedented milestone in the history of Egyptian soccer.”

Emotions ran high across Egypt on Tuesday as supporters gathered in coffee shops, homes and public squares to watch the match against Argentina, with Egyptian flags draped from balconies, storefronts and streets.

The Egyptian Football Association, or EFA, said Wednesday that it’s deeply dissatisfied with the refereeing in Tuesday’s match and decisions related to the Video Assistant Referee, or VAR system.

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan and several players criticized the referees after Argentina scored three unanswered goals in 13 minutes to pull off one of the biggest comebacks in World Cup history.

“Defending the rights and interests of the Egyptian national team is not a matter that can be ignored, minimized, or treated as secondary,” the EFA said in a statement.

In a statement issued later Wednesday, the head of refereeing for soccer's world governing body FIFA, Pierluigi Collina, said the debate over decisions is a natural part of soccer, but stressed that “unfounded allegations have no place in our sport.”

“Nobody can question the integrity of the FIFA World Cup match officials,” he said. “When this happens, it may provoke reactions that lead to threats against them and their families. This is not right.”

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Khaled reported from Cairo

Mohamed Salah, right, smiles as he is greeted by fans upon the Egyptian national soccer team arrival at El-Alamein airport, 160 km (99 miles) west of Alexandria, Egypt, Friday, July 10, 2026. (AP Photo)

Egypt's Head coach Hossam Hassan greets fans upon the Egyptian national soccer team arrival at El-Alamein airport,160 km (99 miles) west of Alexandria, Egypt, Friday, July 10, 2026. (AP Photo)

Mohamed Salah, smiles as he is greeted by fans upon the Egyptian national soccer team arrival at El-Alamein airport, 160 km (99 miles) west of Alexandria, Egypt, Friday, July 10, 2026. (AP Photo)

Feds crowd to greet the Egyptian national soccer team during their arrival at El-Alamein airport, 160 km (99 miles) west of Alexandria, Egypt, Friday, July 10, 2026. (AP Photo)

Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) scores their second goal during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Argentina and Egypt in Atlanta, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Referee Francois Letexier, of France, gestures to Egypt players during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Argentina and Egypt in Atlanta, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

Egypt's Marawan Attia reacts at end of first half of the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Argentina and Egypt in Atlanta, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (Jason Getz/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Argentina's Lionel Messi controls the ball under the watch of Egypt's Mohamed Salah, left, during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Argentina and Egypt in Atlanta, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

Egypt's Mohamed Salah (10) talks with Referee Francois Letexier, of France, during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Argentina and Egypt in Atlanta, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Senegal's top judicial body rejected a constitutional amendment aimed at expanding the role of parliament and reducing presidential powers.

The new law was passed last month, but the government said it would be put to a referendum. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye had challenged the legality of the procedure and requested an emergency review at the Constitutional Council.

The council on Thursday evening ruled the law was unconstitutional, effectively halting one of the parliamentary majority’s cornerstone projects.

The debate over constitutional reform comes as political tensions have risen between Faye and his former prime minister, Ousmane Sonko.

Sonko was dismissed and elected as the president of the National Assembly earlier this year. Their alliance, which had brought them to power in March 2024, gradually disintegrated. A new prime minister has since been appointed, and the formation of a new government is expected.

The opposition views the initiative, proposed by Pastef, Sonko’s party, as political revenge by the former prime minister, who retains significant influence over the parliamentary majority.

The reform would strengthen parliament’s powers, replace the Constitutional Council with a new Constitutional Court and impose stricter controls on the president’s power to dissolve the National Assembly.

Sonko welcomed the decision by the council, saying it is binding. "This cycle reminds us that in a democracy, when institutions play their role, each within its sphere of influence, no crisis can arise," he said.

FILE - President Bassirou Diomaye Faye addresses the 80th session of the UN General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis, File)