The Egyptian national team delivered a lackluster performance in the Al Ain International Tournament in the UAE, losing 2-0 to Uzbekistan and drawing 1-1 with Cape Verde before winning 2-0 on penalties. This raised serious questions about coach Hossam Hassan’s tactics and whether he deserves to lead the Pharaohs in the upcoming period.
The coach responded with media statements attacking his critics and telling them to “hide,” claiming he had already secured qualification for the World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations. His remarks were met with negative reactions in Egyptian circles, to the point that many predicted his imminent departure from coaching the country.
According to journalist Ahmed Shobeir, despite the extremely poor performance in the Al Ain tournament and the coach’s provocative statements, the president of the Egyptian Football Association, Hani Abu Rida, still supports Hossam Hassan and has no intention of dismissing him less than a month before the start of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Abu Rida urged fans and media to refrain from asking questions about Hossam Hassan’s future, emphasizing that the current period is one of unwavering support for the Egyptian national team ahead of the African Cup of Nations. This, he stressed, is the official and firm stance of the Egyptian Football Association, regardless of current events.
Meanwhile, it remains possible that the African Cup of Nations will be Hossam Hassan’s last appearance as Egypt’s coach. Should the team be eliminated early or fail to deliver the expected performance, he could be dismissed immediately, fearing the repercussions of his continued tenure until the 2026 World Cup.
It’s worth noting that Abu Rida had previously confirmed that Hossam and his staff would remain in their positions until the World Cup. However, the current circumstances and the immense public pressure expected after the African Cup of Nations could change this.
