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Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan has reaffirmed his team’s ambition ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), stressing that captain Mohamed Salah is fully motivated to lift the continental trophy.
The Pharaohs open their AFCON campaign against Zimbabwe on Monday evening at 8:00 PM GMT, as the group-stage action gets underway.
🗣️ Hassan: AFCON Is a Special Tournament for Egypt
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Hassan expressed pride and excitement ahead of the tournament:
“I am very happy to be in Morocco. We are taking part in one of the biggest tournaments in the world. The Africa Cup of Nations is extremely important for the Egyptian fans.”
He emphasized the importance of Egypt’s opening match:
“The first match is always difficult, and its importance is like a final. The Zimbabwe match is our first step, and we will work hard to achieve victory.”
⚔️ Respect for Zimbabwe, Confidence in Preparation
Hassan acknowledged the quality of their opponents while expressing confidence in his squad:
“The Zimbabwe national team has professional players, and we respect them greatly. At the same time, we are fully prepared. All players are ready, and we hope everyone will be at their best.”
He added:
“We are the most successful team in the tournament’s history, and we hope to maintain that status.”
🏆 ‘Winning AFCON Is a Different Feeling’
Reflecting on his own success as a player, Hassan highlighted the importance of winning silverware at international level:
“I won the Africa Cup of Nations three times, and it is a great feeling. I transferred this spirit to the players. It is not acceptable to end your international career without winning a trophy — the feeling is completely different.”
🏟️ Morocco Provides Ideal Conditions
The Egypt coach praised the tournament organization and facilities:
“All facilities are available in Morocco. Everything helps us succeed. We feel like we are playing at home, with stadiums and accommodation at the highest level.”
👥 Squad Depth and a New Generation
Hassan admitted the squad is not perfect but expressed satisfaction with his selections:
“Our squad is strong, though not 100 percent complete. I trust all the players to execute what we have worked on.”
He revealed a major milestone:
“We have 14 players appearing in AFCON for the first time. This is important for continuity until 2026, and we achieved that without much attention.”
🔴 Confidence Across All Positions
“I have full confidence in all the players. We have depth in every position. Defending starts from the striker, and any coach would wish to be in my position.”
⭐ Salah’s Motivation: ‘He Wants the Title’
Hassan reserved special praise for Liverpool star Mohamed Salah:
“I am always in contact with Mohamed Salah. His morale is very high. He always regains his balance with the national team because he feels at home here.”
He concluded emphatically:
“Mohamed Salah will remain an icon and one of the best players in the world. We must not forget that he wants to win the Africa Cup of Nations. God willing, he and his teammates will do something special for Egypt.”
🎯 Egypt’s Goal: Lift the Trophy
“A champion must always be ready. We know how strong this tournament is, but our ambition is clear — to win the title. Our preparation started during the World Cup qualifiers, and we have built a team capable of lifting the trophy.”
📊 AFCON 2025 – Group B
Egypt are drawn alongside:
- 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
- 🇿🇦 South Africa
- 🇦🇴 Angola
📅 Egypt AFCON 2025 Group Stage Fixtures
- Matchday 1: Egypt vs Zimbabwe – December 22, 8:00 PM GMT
- Matchday 2: Egypt vs South Africa – December 26, 3:00 PM GMT
- Matchday 3: Egypt vs Angola – December 29, 4:00 PM GMT
