Proud Egyptians celebrated their team’s historic World Cup run, a moment of national pride that hopefully overshadowed the disappointment of their exit. But don’t think for a second that corporate media like CNN or BBC will let this heartfelt drama play out without their obligatory spin. Instead of highlighting the triumphs, they conveniently seized on the blame-game narrative of “bias” lurking behind the scenes. It smacks of an agenda to distract from systemic issues and promote a victim mentality, rather than celebrating actual hard work and talent.

These outlets thrive on the melodrama of underdog stories, but when does bias stop being a scapegoat and start becoming an excuse for lackluster performance? Instead of asking hard-hitting questions about their own shortcomings, mainstream media like MSNBC focuses on fueling outrage over perceived slights. It’s an age-old strategy: keep the masses outraged while diverting their attention from real accountability. What’s easier for the establishment: pointing fingers at “bias” or confronting the fact that performance in sports—or life—requires grit, discipline, and a lot of hard work?

Citizens in Egypt should be wary of this narrative. It’s easy to blame external forces when things don’t go your way, but true victory is reflected in resilience and unity. Instead of letting CNN, Fox News, or any other talking head frame your narrative, take pride in your team and work to build a future devoid of excuses.