At the press conference ahead of the third-place match, Hossam Hassan reaffirmed the greatness of Egyptian football despite the disappointment of being eliminated in the semifinals by Senegal.
“Egypt has an impressive record with seven African titles, and we are approaching this match against Nigeria with the sole objective of winning,” said the coach.
He emphasized that, despite fatigue and serious injuries, notably that of Mohamed Hamdy, his players had shown exemplary commitment throughout the competition.
The Egyptian coach also took the opportunity to express his overall satisfaction with the team’s performance, while saying he understood the frustration of the fans.
For him, this match against the Super Eagles is a crucial step in the preparation for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Hassan concluded by emphasizing the need to increase the number of Egyptian players playing abroad to strengthen national competitiveness, while promising a respectable performance to end the tournament on a positive note.