Ibrahim Hassan urges CAF to rethink September international schedule

Egypt national team director Ibrahim Hassan has called on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to reconsider the timing of the next international window, saying friendly matches should be played before the competitive fixtures in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Qualifying matches for the 2027 tournament are scheduled to take place between September and March.

In a statement sent to journalists, Hassan said: “The Confederation of African Football is required to reconsider the schedule for the September international window, so that friendly matches are played at the beginning of the camp, followed by the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches.”

CAF has extended the September and October camps for the first time, with the next international period due to run from 21 September to 6 October.

The planned camp will include two Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches and one friendly. Hassan said the longer period represented a significant change from previous international windows, which were reserved for competitive matches and lasted no more than nine days.

“The Confederation of African Football decided for the first time to extend the September and October camps to run from 21 September to 6 October, with two qualifying matches and one friendly match during that period,” he said.

“In the past, international windows were only for official matches and did not exceed nine days, whereas the next camp will last 17 days.”

Hassan believes the order of matches should be changed, with national teams beginning their camps with friendlies before turning to their competitive commitments.

“It is better for teams to start the international window with friendly matches and then play the official games, because that would be better from both the physical and technical perspectives, rather than the other way around,” he added.

Egypt are preparing to begin their qualification campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

The tournament will be hosted by three countries: Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

Egypt have been drawn in a qualifying group with Angola, South Sudan and Malawi. Their campaign will therefore form part of the schedule Hassan is asking CAF to review, particularly the arrangement that places a friendly and two competitive matches within the extended September-October camp.

His comments focus on the demands created by the 17-day window and the importance of ensuring that players are prepared physically and technically before taking part in the decisive qualifying fixtures. He has argued that beginning with a friendly would offer teams a more suitable preparation before they move on to their official matches.