Egypt midfielder Emam Ashour has revealed that the Pharaohs are approaching every fixture at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations as if it were a final, a mindset he believes has been crucial to their impressive group-stage campaign.
Ashour explained that the team adopted this mentality from the very start of the tournament, a strategy that ultimately saw Egypt finish top of Group B despite competing against several strong sides.
“From our very first match, we have treated every game like a final. We finished top of our group, ahead of strong teams such as South Africa. We have closed that chapter for now and are fully focused on the Round of 16 match against Benin, which is the most important challenge at the moment,” he said as quoted by CAFOnline.
Beyond Egypt’s own progress, the Al Ahly midfielder also pointed to the growing technical quality of African football, attributing it to the increasing number of professional players and experienced coaches spread across the continent.
He noted that this development has raised the overall level of competition, making matches at the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025 particularly intense and engaging.
According to Ashour, the heightened standards mean there is no margin for error, with every fixture presenting a stern test and demanding maximum concentration from teams at all stages of the tournament.
