Egypt coach Hossam Hassan expressed his delight after the Pharaohs booked their place in the AFCON 2025 semifinals with a 3-2 win over Côte d’Ivoire, and used the occasion to highlight his team’s influence on the tournament’s tactics.
He thanked his players for fully committing to his instructions over the 90 minutes.
Hassan explained that Egypt are using a back‑five system, but stressed it is not a purely defensive approach. He pointed out that his side often create strong attacking pressure and that the shape allows them to shift quickly between defense and offense.
“Any coach in the world tries to innovate and may make mistakes, but I trust the players and my staff,” he said, noting that he is not just applying a formation but constantly seeking in‑game development and solutions. He added that, after Egypt used the five‑at‑the‑back system successfully against South Africa, several other AFCON teams, including Cameroon, started to imitate the same idea.
The veteran coach praised his squad for making the plan work and for repeatedly reaching the opponent’s penalty area with organised moves.
Egypt now turn their focus to a heavyweight semifinal against Senegal on Wednesday as they chase a first continental title since 2010.
