Hossam Hassan, the head coach of the Egyptian national football team, affirmed that facing Nigeria in the third-place match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, currently being held in Morocco, will be anything but easy, but rather a very difficult and competitive encounter. The coach emphasized that the Pharaohs' sole objective in this match is to secure victory and claim the bronze medal to salvage some pride against a team considered one of the giants of African football and a perennial title contender.
Physical challenges and significant injuries
During the pre-match press conference, Hossam Hassan explained that the Egyptian national team suffered from clear physical fatigue and a rise in injuries, particularly during the marathon semi-final match against Senegal. The coach pointed to the absence of full-back Mohamed Hamdy, in addition to Ahmed Fatouh's injury, which forced him to make a substitution at halftime in the previous match. This negatively impacted the team's physical and technical performance during crucial moments.
A rich history and a clash of titans
This match holds special significance beyond its status as a mere ranking game, as it pits two of the continent's most established national teams against each other. Egypt holds the record for the most titles with seven, while Nigeria boasts a rich history and a remarkable record of reaching the semi-finals. Matches between Egypt and Nigeria are always considered a high-intensity, fast-paced African classic, presenting the Pharaohs' coaching staff with a true test of the team's ability to recover quickly from setbacks and return to winning ways.
A message to the fans and an understanding of the anger
Hossam Hassan expressed his deep appreciation for the tremendous support the Egyptian fans provided to the national team throughout the tournament, emphasizing his complete understanding of the anger and disappointment felt by the sporting community, especially given the high expectations for competing for an eighth title. Hassan said, "I thank the players for their fighting spirit. Everyone gave their all against world-class opponents like Senegal, and we promise the fans that we will work hard to get back on track.".
Professionalism and building a generation for the future
In a related context, Hossam Hassan addressed the issue of Egyptian players playing professionally abroad, expressing his hope for an increase in the number of Egyptian players in major European leagues. He emphasized that exposure to international competition is the only way to develop the mentality and physical attributes of Egyptian players, noting that while the current reliance on local talent is positive, it needs to be reinforced by more players from abroad to compete with the star-studded national teams of the continent.
The ultimate goal: the 2026 World Cup
The coach concluded his remarks by emphasizing that the Africa Cup of Nations, despite its importance, is a pivotal step in the preparations for the ultimate goal, the 2026 World Cup. He pointed out that preparations for the World Cup have already begun, and that the next phase will see a greater focus on developing collective performance and building a strong team capable not only of qualifying for the World Cup, but also of competing strongly at the continental and global levels, especially with the increase in African slots in the next edition of the World Cup.
