Soccer defeat against Ethiopia ignites Egyptian anger over Nile dam
The Egyptian national soccer team’s defeat against Ethiopia awakened angry reactions at the political and sporting levels in Egypt, with some associating the victory to Ethiopia’s position on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
The defeat of the Egyptian national team by its Ethiopian counterpart has spilled over into the political crisis between Ethiopia and Egypt over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) crisis. On June 9, Egypt lost 2-0 in the Africa Cup of Nations 2023 qualifiers.
The implications of the unexpected defeat echoed at the political level, with high-toned statements exchanged between officials and in the media outlets of the two countries.
Mohamed al-Arusi, member of the Ethiopian parliament and adviser to the Ethiopian Ministry of Water and Energy, praised his country’s win on Twitter. “We congratulate our national team with its overwhelming victory over Egypt, and we say hard luck to the Egyptian national team! It is a sport and it needs sportsmanship, not hostility!” he tweeted.
Arusi continued, “Let us not involve the GERD in sports, as your fans do on social media. The third goal is the third filling of the GERD.”
