Brighton boss praises Younes Ibrahim after debut assist in Conference League win

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler praised 18-year-old Younes Ibrahim after the Egyptian midfielder made an immediate impact in his senior debut during a 4-0 victory over Lithuanian side Kauno Zalgiris.

Brighton began their UEFA Conference League league phase campaign with a convincing win, taking all three points and moving top of the table on goal difference alongside several other teams.

Ibrahim came on in the 67th minute for Ghanaian winger Ibrahim Osman, who had suffered an injury. The teenager delivered an assist shortly after his introduction, creating a goal in the same minute in which he came on for Matt O’Riley.

Hurzeler said Ibrahim had shown the quality he displays regularly in training.

“Younes Ibrahim shows everything he has in every training session,” the Brighton manager told The Argus.

“I thought he was a very influential substitute. He came on and, with his first and then his second touch, he delivered a cross and showed some of our players what a cross should really look like.”

Brighton had struggled to deliver their crosses with the required accuracy in the first half, Hurzeler added.

“We all know that Younes Ibrahim has an exceptional left foot. He is a very creative and inventive player,” said the German.

“What I like most about Younes Ibrahim is his commitment to working hard and pressing the opposition when we lose the ball.

“I also like his reaction when we lose possession. He is an extremely humble boy, so I am very pleased for him.”

The appearance was Ibrahim’s first for Brighton’s senior team. He had previously been named among the substitutes once this season, during the fourth round of the Premier League against Coventry City, but did not play.

A source at the Egyptian Football Association previously told FilGoal.com that efforts were being intensified to include Ibrahim in Egypt’s next training camp.

“We are intensifying our attempts to call up Younes Ibrahim, the Brighton player, for the next camp,” the source said.

“We have contacted him more than once and he wants to be with the Egypt national team.”

Waseem Ahmed, a member of the Egyptian Football Association’s Professional Players Committee, previously described Ibrahim as a significant prospect for Egyptian football during an appearance on On Sport 2.

“Younes Ibrahim is a distinguished player and a new discovery for Egyptian football,” Ahmed said. “He holds four nationalities: Egyptian through his parents, Moroccan through his grandmother, as well as Australian and English.”