Egypt forward Mostafa Ziko has added his voice to coach Hossam Hassan's accusations of referee bias, claiming the officiating cost the Pharaohs a historic victory over Argentina in their 3-2 FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 defeat.

Egypt had been in complete control of the contest, holding a commanding 2-0 lead with only 10 minutes of normal time left. A place in the quarter-finals seemed well within reach — until Argentina mounted one of the most stunning comebacks seen at this World Cup.

Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi, and Enzo Fernández all scored in rapid succession to turn the tie on its head and send the reigning champions through, shattering Egyptian hopes in the process.

The goal that changed everything

A pivotal moment came when Ziko had a goal disallowed after a VAR review. The referee ruled that a foul had been committed in the build-up — a decision that would have made it 3-2 to Egypt and potentially ended the match as a contest.

Ziko, visibly emotional in the aftermath, made clear he believed the outcome was shaped by decisions outside Egypt's control.