The Mediterranean Knights of Libya staged an impressive comeback to defeat Egypt 3-1 on penalties after an exhilarating 2-2 draw, securing their spot in the FIFA Futsal World Cup.
The third-place match at the TotalEnergies CAF Futsal AFCON Morocco 2024 saw a flurry of goals at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Hall in the Moroccan capital.
Essam Ramadan initially propelled Egypt to a 2-0 lead with two remarkable strikes in the first half. However, goals from Mohamed Said and a late equalizer from Suhayb pushed the game into a tension-filled penalty shootout.
Libya’s goalkeeper, Mahmoud Abd Elwahab, emerged as the hero during the shootout, saving two penalties and sealing Libya’s qualification for the FIFA Futsal World Cup.
From the onset, Libya displayed dominance against their North African rivals, with Mohamed Said and Ali Shosha orchestrating attacks for Ricardo Calabuig’s side. Despite Said’s impressive half-volley early in the game, Egyptian goalkeeper Mahmoud Abd Elwahab made crucial saves to keep the scoreline level.
Suhayb Alghoul’s powerful strike hit the Egyptian crossbar, signaling Libya’s attacking intent. Suliman Elderwish and Shosha continued to test the Egyptian goalkeeper, but failed to find the net.
Despite Egypt’s lead courtesy of Ramadan’s brace, Libya fought back fiercely in the second half. Mohamed Said reduced the deficit with a well-taken goal early in the period, igniting hope for Libya’s comeback.
With relentless determination, Libya found the equalizer just minutes before full time, forcing the match into penalties. The shootout favored Libya, securing their place in the FIFA Futsal World Cup alongside Morocco and Angola.
