Egypt national team coach Hossam Hassan has called for a reduction in the number of foreign players in the Egyptian Premier League to strengthen the development of local talent and improve the national team’s performance.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Hassan explained that Egyptian clubs currently rely heavily on foreign players, particularly in key positions such as striker, left-back, and right-back.
“The most appropriate decision, in my view, is to limit the number of foreign players to only three per club, while continuing to consider Palestinian players as local elements,” he said.
Hassan also highlighted the national team’s ongoing strategy to monitor and engage dual-nationality players. He revealed that one such player has been contacted by the technical staff but has not yet decided whether to represent the Pharaohs.
The coach emphasised that the Egyptian league is rich in talent but requires more support to reach its full potential.
He stressed the importance of popular clubs returning to prominence and attracting large crowds to matches, which would enhance the league’s competitiveness and visibility.
Reflecting on recent achievements, Hassan noted that Egypt reached the semi-finals of the last Africa Cup of Nations, despite facing difficult circumstances that affected results in certain matches.
He argued that fostering domestic talent through reduced reliance on foreign players would strengthen the national team in future tournaments.
