Egypt witnessed one of its loudest and most joyful nights, after the national team achieved a historic qualification to the round of 16 of the World Cup for the first time in its history, in a night where streets and squares turned into celebration arenas, Egyptian flags were raised, and fans' chants echoed across various governorates celebrating the 'Pharaohs'.

Celebration scenes extended from Cairo to Alexandria, from canal cities to Upper Egypt and Delta governorates, as hundreds of thousands took to the streets immediately after the final whistle, in a scene reflecting the public joy over this unprecedented achievement, while match viewing areas, cafes, and public squares turned into platforms for celebration and exchanging congratulations.

Following the achievement, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi congratulated the team, stressing that 'what the players achieved represents a historic moment in the journey of Egyptian football.'

El-Sisi said via his Facebook account: 'I congratulate the sons of Egypt, the heroes of the national football team, on this historic achievement, qualifying for the round of 16 of the World Cup for the first time in the team's history. You have proven that belief in ability, competing as a team spirit, and determination to win achieve accomplishments. All the best for what is coming, and God willing, the journey of achievement and pride continues.'

The Egyptian Cabinet also praised the honorable performance of the national team, stressing that the achievement reflects the will and determination shown by the players and the technical staff throughout the tournament.

What do the fans say?

Sara al-Sayed, who watched the match from the fan zone in the New Administrative Capital, said that 'the atmosphere was exceptional from the first moments,' adding to Sky News Arabia that everyone believed in the team's ability to make history, and 'with the end of the match, the area turned into a collective celebration where everyone participated with flags, songs, and chants,' stressing that the joy 'cannot be described.'

She emphasized that 'hopes are pinned on the next match to craft a historic and exceptional achievement that may not be repeated, although fans realize that what has been achieved was great and unprecedented.'

From the Mohandessin district in Giza Governorate, Mohamed Mustafa told Sky News Arabia that 'Egyptians had been waiting for this moment for many years,' noting that 'the team delivered a heroic match worthy of qualification, and what was achieved restored hope and brought happiness to millions of Egyptians who rallied behind their country's team.'

'By God, the men did it'

The celebrations were not limited to fans' chants and car horns; the fan zone in the New Administrative Capital quickly turned into an artistic celebration arena, after a concert by artist Hamada Helal was held to celebrate the national team's historic achievement.

Helal took the stage amid a warm reception from thousands of fans, and performed a set of his most famous songs, before igniting the atmosphere with his song 'By God, the men did it,' which the audience sang in unison, as Egyptian flags rose and mobile phones lit up the celebration area sky.

The audience interacted remarkably with the song, which became an anthem for the celebration, as patriotic chants mixed with songs, and fans continued to interact and applaud, chanting the name of Egypt and the national team players, while families, youth, and children documented the moments with photos and videos that quickly spread on social media platforms.

Fireworks were also launched, while celebrations continued until late at night, celebrating one of the most important milestones in the history of Egyptian football.

The historic qualification came after the Egyptian team defeated Australia on penalties 4-2, following the end of regular and extra time at 1-1.

Imam Ashour opened the scoring early in the 13th minute with a precise header, before the Australian team equalized at the start of the second half with an own goal scored by Mohamed Hany into his own net.

In the penalty shootout, Egyptian players successfully scored all their kicks, while Harry Souttar and Lucas Herrington missed two for Australia, so the 'Pharaohs' secured the qualification card to the round of 16, where they await the winner of the match between Argentina and Cape Verde.