Egypt's national football team secured a commanding 5-0 victory over South Sudan in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations Group B qualifier at Juba Stadium on Tuesday. The win sees the Pharaohs lead Group B with four points, bouncing back from a goalless draw against Angola in the opening round in Cairo on Friday. Egypt's coach, Hossam Hassan, expressed satisfaction with his team's performance, highlighting their improvement from the previous match.
Omar Marmoush scored twice to end a six-month drought with the Pharaohs, while Mostafa Ziko, substitute Ibrahim Adel, and Barcelona youngster Hamza Abdelkarim also found the target. Hassan attributed the team's success to their thorough preparation, stating that they had studied the South Sudan team well before the game. He praised his players' performances, saying they had worked together to achieve the desired result.
Despite the convincing victory, Hassan acknowledged that the match was challenging due to the high temperatures and the team's unfamiliarity with playing on artificial turf. He emphasized that the win was a significant achievement, considering the difficulties they faced. The Egyptian team will now focus on a friendly match against South Africa in Cairo on 4 October.
Hassan clarified his previous comments about the slow start to the Egyptian league, stressing that he had not criticized the competition. He explained that his remarks were about the players' physical performance, which was affected by the league's early stages. The coach expressed his appreciation for Egypt's major clubs, such as Ahly and Zamalek, highlighting their importance in African football.
The Egypt coach also addressed the absence of key player Mohamed Salah, who missed the game against South Sudan for personal reasons. Hassan emphasized that the national team is not dependent on any one player, stating that all players are important. He expressed his responsibility to work with the available players to build a strong core for the national team.
Hassan revealed that the team faced difficult circumstances in the Angola match, including a lack of preparation time and injuries. He stressed that he tries to choose his words carefully when speaking, but is often misunderstood. The coach concluded that the Egypt national team and clubs complement each other, working together to raise Egypt's profile in football.
Egypt's 5-0 win over South Sudan marks a significant improvement from their previous match, demonstrating the team's potential under coach Hossam Hassan. With the friendly match against South Africa approaching, the Pharaohs will look to build on their momentum and continue their growth as a team. Hassan's comments highlight his focus on teamwork and developing a strong core of players.
Key points
- Egypt's national team secured a 5-0 win over South Sudan in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations Group B qualifier.
- Coach Hossam Hassan expressed satisfaction with his team's performance, highlighting their improvement from the previous match.
- The team will now focus on a friendly match against South Africa in Cairo on 4 October.
