Hossam Hassan celebrates achievement as Egypt moves closer to World Cup

Hossam Hassan carried a smile that told its own story after Egypt’s goalless draw in Ouagadougou kept their World Cup hopes firmly in sight.

For the 59-year-old coach, the result meant more than a point. It was another step in turning a lifelong dream into reality.

“It’s a great day for the Egyptian people…I would like to thank every player for their efforts against a tough team that has players in the Premier League, Bundesliga and Ligue 1,” Hassan told the On Sport channel.

“Despite playing in Burkina Faso, we played positively and created big chances. At the same time, we maintained balance. We could have scored one or two goals before the end,” he added.

The former striker, Egypt’s all-time top scorer, already etched his name into history at the 1990 World Cup. Now he stands on the brink of becoming the first Egyptian to qualify both as player and coach.

Egypt remain unbeaten with 20 points, five clear of Burkina Faso. Two more points against Djibouti or Guinea-Bissau in October will seal qualification.