Only a few years prior, a profoundly different image defined the collective memory of Egyptian and Moroccan football supporters. It was the scene of Mohamed Salah approaching Achraf Hakimi following the final whistle of the Egypt-Morocco Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final in Cameroon, offering consolation and sharing a sincere embrace under the gaze of cameras. This moment, transcending a mere personal gesture from a global star, swiftly evolved into a symbol of a relationship that appeared warmer than ever, uniting two peoples bound by a long history of footballing and human affinity.
The media in both nations celebrated the scene as evidence of “brotherhood” and “respect,” with fan commentary on social platforms overflowing with sentiments of this nature. Merely one year later, a multitude of Egyptians found themselves partaking in an unfamiliar experience: supporting another Arab national team with the same fervor typically reserved for their own. The historic journey of Morocco during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, progressing from the group stages to eliminating Spain and then Portugal, ultimately reaching the semi-finals as the first African and Arab team to achieve this milestone, transformed into a pan-Arab celebration.
Video clips emanating from cafes in Cairo, Alexandria, and Ismailia, capturing crowds celebrating goals by Youssef En-Nesyri and his teammates, spread concurrently with scenes of joy in Rabat, Casablanca, and Tangier. This phenomenon solidified the notion that the Atlas Lions had, in that tournament, unequivocally become “the team of the Arabs.”
A Stark Contrast on the Pitch
However, by 15 February 2026, the scene at Cairo International Stadium seemed to belong to a different era entirely. The match between Al Ahly and AS FAR (Royal Armed Forces), concluding the CAF Champions League group stages, ended in a goalless draw with both teams advancing to the quarter-finals. Yet, the encounter strayed far beyond its technical framework, becoming a new headline for tension. The fixture witnessed on-pitch altercations and clear footage of AS FAR players being pelted with water bottles as they left the pitch at halftime.
Between the frame of Salah and Hakimi and the “peak of the bottles” in Cairo, a shift occurred in the general mood governing the relationship between the two nations’ fanbases. This transformation warrants a calm reading, devoid of overwhelming emotions or excessive nationalistic fervor, focusing instead on the sequence of events that marked this notable change in dynamics.