Egypt U-20s’ fighting spirit earns praise after North Africa title win

Hany Abu Rida has praised the “fighting spirit” shown by Egypt’s youth team as they won the North Africa youth championship and secured qualification for the 2027 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations in Ghana.

Egypt beat Algeria 2-0 in their final match to claim the title, with Abu Rida, chairman of the Egyptian Football Association, highlighting the players’ determination throughout the tournament.

“I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to my sons, the Egypt youth team players and the technical and administrative staff, on this deserved achievement of winning the North Africa championship and qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations finals,” Abu Rida said in comments published by the Egyptian Football Association.

“The players produced an outstanding and courageous performance throughout the tournament, showing great spirit and a strong determination to win and make the Egyptian supporters happy.”

Abu Rida said the team’s resilience had been the most striking feature of their campaign.

“What particularly caught my attention was the fighting spirit shown by the players, which reflects the character of the Egyptian player and their ability to face challenges until the final moments,” he added.

“This achievement coincided with the anniversary of the glorious October victories, a precious memory for all Egyptians. Our sons drew from the spirit of October the values of determination, persistence and refusing to surrender, and that was clearly reflected in their performance on the pitch.”

The Egyptian Football Association president urged the players and coaching staff to maintain those standards as they prepare for the next stage of their development.

“I ask the players and the technical staff to continue in this manner and preserve this spirit and determination, because what has been achieved is an important step on a long road,” he said. “We expect more from them in the next phase.”

“Our aim is to continue working hard to compete for the Africa Cup of Nations title and fulfil the dream of qualifying for the World Cup, in a way that reflects the name and history of Egyptian football.”

Abu Rida also said he believed the current group could build on the success.

“I have confidence in the abilities of this generation of players, and I hope this achievement will be the beginning of further successes,” he said. “I hope the youth team continues its journey with the same spirit and determination, to make the Egyptian supporters happy and raise Egypt’s name high in continental and international competitions.”

The victory gave Egypt their fourth North Africa title, following previous successes in 2006, 2008 and 2012. They have now qualified for the 2027 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, which will be held in Ghana, for a third consecutive edition and a 20th time overall.

Egypt opened the tournament with a 2-0 victory over Libya, followed that with a 2-1 win against Tunisia, then lost 2-0 to Morocco before defeating Algeria 2-0 in the final round.

They finished top of the standings with nine points, two ahead of runners-up Morocco, who also qualified for the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations. Algeria were third on four points, ahead of Libya on goal difference, while Tunisia finished last with three points.

Egypt had finished third in the 2023 edition and runners-up in 2024. The title is the first of Wael Riad’s managerial career.