Former Egyptian international Mohamed Zidan has expressed confidence in current head coach Hossam Hassan’s ability to guide Egypt to victory in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
As the most successful team in the tournament’s history, Egypt has claimed the AFCON title a record seven times since its inception in 1957.
However, their last triumph dates back to 2010, when they edged Ghana 1-0 in the final in Angola, courtesy of a late goal from Gedo.
With Egypt gearing up for their 27th AFCON appearance in Morocco, Zidan, a three-time AFCON winner himself, believes Hassan has what it takes to end the nation’s 15-year title drought.
Zidan also acknowledged the immense pressure on Mohamed Salah, the Liverpool star and one of the world’s top footballers, to replicate his club success on the international stage.
“Salah is a top footballer and one of the biggest names in the game right now. When you have a player like him, performing at such a high level for his club in England and being among the best three or four players in the world, it’s only natural to rely on him,” he told Flashscore.
“You naturally depend on him to perform for the national team the way he does for Liverpool. However, the quality of players, the style of play, the level of competition, and the systems of the national team and Liverpool are completely different.
“The game they play is not the same, so it does create pressure. I experienced this myself when I played in Germany and then returned to the national team.”
Despite the challenges, Zidan expressed optimism about Hassan’s leadership.
“I believe captain Hassan, as the head coach of the national team, has the experience to lead us to victory.
“He has won the African Cup of Nations three times himself and is a true legend in the history of Egyptian football. I sincerely hope he can also help the team reclaim the trophy,” he added.
Egypt secured their spot in the 2025 AFCON by finishing at the top of Group C during the qualifiers, which featured Cape Verde, Mauritania, and Botswana.
Among their standout performances was a 2-0 victory over Mauritania, where Salah found the back of the net.
The Pharaohs will learn their group-stage opponents on January 27, when the Confederation of African Football conducts the tournament draw in Rabat.
