Egypt national team coach Hossam Hassan has expressed his satisfaction with the Pharaohs' 5-0 win over South Sudan in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers in Juba on Tuesday. The win was a significant bounce back for Egypt after a goalless draw against Angola in the opening round in Cairo on Friday. Hassan attributed the draw against Angola to the team's lack of readiness at the start of the league season and the long time spent without playing following the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Omar Marmoush scored twice to end a six-month drought with the Pharaohs and lead the team to a commanding victory. Mostafa Ziko, substitute Ibrahim Adel, and Barcelona youngster Hamza Abdelkarim were also on target. Hassan acknowledged that the match was difficult despite the big-margin victory due to the high temperatures and the team's lack of familiarity with playing on artificial turf.
Hassan revealed that Trabzonspor winger Mohamed Salah missed the game against South Sudan for personal reasons. He stressed that although the Egypt national team may be affected by the absence of key players, it does not depend on any one individual. Hassan emphasized that all players are important and that it is his responsibility to work with the committed players who are available to build a strong core for the national team.
The Egypt coach clarified his comments about the slow start to the Egyptian league, stressing that he had not criticized the competition. He explained that he had only spoken about the players' physical performance, as they did not produce the expected performance after playing five rounds of the domestic competition. Hassan praised the Egyptian league, highlighting the country's major clubs such as Ahly and Zamalek.
Hassan expressed his satisfaction with all the players' performances, stating that he had studied the South Sudan team well before the game. He added that the Pharaohs lead Group B with four points after the win. The team will now turn their attention to a friendly against South Africa in Cairo on 4 October.
The 60-year-old tactician emphasized that the national team and the clubs complement each other, and they work together to raise Egypt's profile. He concluded that he tries to choose his words carefully when he speaks because his intentions are good, but he is often misunderstood.
Egypt's win over South Sudan was a significant result in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers. The team will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming friendly against South Africa. Key players like Omar Marmoush and Mohamed Salah will be crucial to Egypt's success in the future.
Key points
- Egypt coach Hossam Hassan expressed satisfaction with his team's 5-0 win over South Sudan in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
- The win was a significant bounce back for Egypt after a goalless draw against Angola in the opening round.
- Hassan emphasized that the national team does not depend on any one individual, despite the absence of key players like Mohamed Salah.
