Hossam Hassan clarifies his statement regarding the Africa Cup of Nations before the Egypt-Nigeria match
In a press conference characterized by candor and a desire to clarify the facts, Hossam Hassan, the Egyptian national team coach, put an end to the widespread controversy that has recently arisen in continental sporting circles. This came during his address to the media on Friday, in preparation for the highly anticipated match against Nigeria to determine third place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations currently being held in Morocco.
Clarifying the position and respecting opponents
The coach responded directly to the criticism he faced after the loss to Senegal in the semi-final, specifically regarding his statement that "Egypt is the mother of Africa and the Arabs." Hossam Hassan clarified that his words had been taken out of context, saying: "I want to explain to everyone exactly what I meant. I was talking about the rich history of the Egyptian national team in the Africa Cup of Nations, and about the pioneering role Egypt played in establishing and supporting football on the African continent.".
The Pharaohs' technical director added that his statement stemmed from national pride in the support that the Egyptian people always provide to their Arab and African brothers in international forums, stressing: "We support everyone, and this is the meaning I wanted to convey, and I did not mean any other meaning or any kind of arrogance or belittling of any competing team.".
Historical context and present challenges
Hossam Hassan's remarks come at a crucial transitional period for the Egyptian national team. Egypt, the continent's most successful nation with seven titles, is striving to reclaim its footballing prestige amidst a dramatic rise in the overall level of African teams. Hassan highlighted the current disparities in the core squads, explaining, "We are currently operating with a minimal number of professional players compared to major teams like Senegal, Morocco, Algeria, and Nigeria, whose lineups are almost entirely composed of stars from European leagues.".
He stressed that the technical staff is working on building a new generation that blends the enthusiasm of youth with the experience of elders, expressing his hope to increase the number of Egyptian professionals in Europe in the future to ensure continued competition for global and continental titles.
Preparing for the grand finale
On the field, the Egyptian national team concludes its training today in preparation for facing Nigeria's "Super Eagles." Egypt lost its chance to compete for the title after a 1-0 defeat to Senegal, with Sadio Mane scoring the lone goal. This match highlighted the Pharaohs' need for more technical and physical work to match the speed and strength of the continent's champions.
The third-place match between Egypt and Nigeria is scheduled to kick off tomorrow, Saturday, January 17, at 6:00 PM Cairo time, as the Pharaohs seek to win the bronze medal to appease the fans and conclude the tournament with an important moral victory.
