Egypt's La Casa de Papel Moment: Mustafa Mohamed's Bold Promise After AFCON Quarterfinal Win

Mustafa Mohamed's playful pledge after Egypt's AFCON quarterfinal win

Mustafa Mohamed, the Egyptian international and Nantes powerhouse, offered a lighthearted remark after Egypt reached the AFCON 2025 semifinals with a 3-2 win over Ivory Coast in the quarterfinals on Saturday.

His comment came in response to a journalist's question about why he and teammate Imam Ashour wore head coverings as they left the pitch, joking: 'We're not La Casa de Papel, and we will steal the Africa Cup, God willing.'

The La Casa de Papel reference is one of the Spanish series' most famous plots, about a mastermind-led crew executing audacious heists and outsmarting the police with precise, meticulous plans that keep everyone on the edge of their seats.

Egypt will meet Senegal in the semifinals next Wednesday at the Tangier Grand Stadium, while Nigeria contrasts with host Morocco in the other semi. The tournament's storyline remains lively as African football's drama continues to unfold.

Punchline 1: Precision over plunder—our plan is so tight even the goalkeeper wouldn’t dare blink.

Punchline 2: If a sniper had a football brain, it would be Mustafa Mohamed—calm, precise, and always aimed at the target.