Hany Abou Rida maintains Egypt AFCON results won’t define Hossam Hassan’s future

Hany Abou Rida, president of the Egyptian Football Association, emphasized in a recent federation podcast that his relationship with national team coach Hossam Hassan is strong and unclouded by any past tensions.

Abou Rida stressed, “Results are always the key factor for everyone in the Egyptian federation, not just Hossam Hassan.” He made it clear that Hassan’s future is not tied to the outcome of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), noting that preparations are already focused on the 2026 World Cup.

Addressing rumors of discord within the federation, Abou Rida explained his collaborative approach: “We work together to build up Egypt’s football and always listen to leaders like Mohamed Salah, who unites the team and plays a big role on and off the pitch.” He recounted his early career obstacles, such as emigration and injury, which cut his playing days short but sparked his passion for football development.

Abou Rida highlighted his mission to uncover new talent and his pride in establishing the tradition of playing the national anthem before league matches. Now in his final term, he hopes young, ambitious leaders will take the reins and keep Egyptian football on its path to success.