Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan expressed his disappointment following his team’s 1-0 loss to Senegal in the semifinals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), a defeat that ended their bid for an eighth continental title.
At the post-match press conference, Hassan highlighted what he described as unfair conditions affecting his squad.
He noted that Egypt had far less recovery time than their opponents, saying, “We rested for only two days and then played again on the third. We were always traveling. Compare the rest days other teams had to ours. That’s why I feel sorry for my players,” he said.
Hassan also pointed out that Senegal benefited from more stable arrangements.
“Our opponents stayed in the same city, same hotel, same beds throughout the competition. We had no such comfort. We suffered from constant travel and lack of rest.”
Despite the setback, the coach celebrated Egypt’s unmatched history in African football.
“Until the end of time, no team will dare to win the Africa Cup seven times like Egypt. I bet on that. Egypt is a great team, and no one will match this achievement,” he declared.
Hassan also stressed the need for fairer conditions moving forward.
“We needed one or two extra days of rest, just like Senegal had. Instead, we played immediately after the quarterfinal.”
Egypt will now face Nigeria in the third-place playoff on Saturday in Casablanca while Morocco face Senegal in the final on Sunday in Rabat.
