Egypt national team player Karim Hafez thanked his teammates and the team's technical staff after exiting the World Cup.
Karim Hafez
Club: Pyramids
Egypt's national team bid farewell to the World Cup from the round of 16 after losing in an exciting match against Argentina 3-2.
Hafez wrote on his Facebook account: "In 2018, God did not want me to be with the Egypt national team at the World Cup."
He recounted, "I went through difficult circumstances and an injury that affected my professional career, but I did not lose hope, and I kept dreaming of that moment all my life, and I believed that our Lord is just, and that my hard work and effort would not go to waste."
Karim Hafez participated in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon, and was also on the initial list announced by Argentine Héctor Cúper, before being excluded.
The team's left-back continued, "After 8 years, fate willed that I return to wearing the Egypt national team jersey at the World Cup, and be present at the biggest football event in the world, and write a page of my history among men and heroes I was honored to play with."
Karim Hafez added, "We wanted to make the greatest people in the world happy, the Egyptian people, who always stood behind us and supported us with all love."
He added, "We exerted great effort, but it's football; there are wins and there are losses."
He continued, "I want to thank all my fellow players for every beautiful moment we lived, and thank the technical staff led by Captain Hossam Hassan, and also thank the Egyptian Football Association for the trust and support, and finally thank every Egyptian who believed in us, supported us, and was a reason for our fighting until the last moment."
He concluded, "Proud of my country, and proud to have represented Egypt's name at the World Cup, praise be to God for everything.. Long live Egypt."
The 30-year-old Karim Hafez started in the matches against Australia and Argentina, while coming on as a substitute in the first match against Belgium in his national team journey at the World Cup.
Karim Hafez contributed by assisting Egypt's goal against Australia.
