Hossam Hassan, the head coach of Egypt’s national football team, attended a press conference organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), bringing together former African champions from across the continent’s football history.
Expressing his pride in being born in a country as illustrious as Egypt, with its seven titles throughout its history in the championship, Hossam Hassan highlighted his fortune in participating seven times in the African Cup of Nations, clinching three titles in 1986, 1998, and 2006.
Hossam Hassan reminisced about experiencing multiple generations and competing in the African Cup of Nations at the age of almost forty during the 2006 tournament.
He emphasized that the 1998 edition was particularly challenging for the Egyptian national team.
At that time, Mahmoud El-Gohary, the late coach of the Pharaohs, was molding a young team with only two experienced players, himself and Hany Ramzy.
Reflecting on the prevailing sentiment within Egypt at the time, Hassan noted that many believed the national team would return quickly from Burkina Faso without contending for the title.
However, Egypt faced formidable opponents, including South Africa, the defending champions boasting a formidable squad.
Hassan asserted that the 1998 edition presented greater challenges compared to 2006, during which he delivered his best performances.
As the head coach of the Egyptian national team, Hassan emphasized the deserving nature of African football to produce the best talents, highlighting its rich history of remarkable players and teams.
