Egyptian TV host Amr Adib launched a fierce on-air attack on national team coach Hossam Hassan and team director Ibrahim Hassan after their recent remarks in Morocco sparked a storm in local media.
The row began in the pre‑match press conference for Egypt’s third‑place playoff against Nigeria, when a Moroccan journalist asked Hossam about his earlier criticism of travel arrangements to Tangier and organisational aspects after the semi‑final loss to Senegal, only for the coach to refuse to answer and label the question disrespectful.
Tension escalated further when Ibrahim Hassan reportedly described Egypt’s hotel in Tangier as a mere “pension” and appeared in a video telling a Moroccan journalist: “You waited 50 years to win a continental title.” Adib condemned this attitude, arguing that if AFCON were hosted in Egypt and a rival coach attacked the country’s organisation, transport and hotels in similar fashion, Egyptians would be outraged.
He stressed that Moroccans had supported Egypt and even sent fans to cheer the Pharaohs, questioning why the brothers could not understand the anger their words provoked.
Adib went on to dissect the press‑conference exchange, noting that people only circulated the latter part of the Moroccan journalist’s question while ignoring his opening, where he accused Hossam of insulting the efforts of an entire country and urged him to focus instead on Egypt’s weak performance, especially with the team failing to threaten Senegal’s goal until the 94th minute.
The presenter insisted Morocco is not a poor country, saying the real poverty was in Egypt’s attacking display, and mocked the idea of blaming mosquitoes or conditions after such a flat performance.
He also criticised Ibrahim Hassan’s comments about Morocco not winning AFCON for 50 years and his attempt to block Sadio Mane from greeting Mohamed Salah, asking “Where is the sportsmanship?” and accusing the pair of behaving like “bad losers” who build a whole “factory of excuses” after defeat instead of congratulating the opponent and showing respect.
Adib defended the referee of the Senegal semi‑final, pointing out that Egypt had not created chances, had no disallowed goals or clear penalties and therefore had no basis to pin the loss on officiating.
Finally, Adib suggested that Hossam Hassan had damaged Egypt’s relationship with Moroccan fans “there,” and wondered aloud whether the Egyptian FA president or the sports minister had even reprimanded him for rhetoric that, in his view, crossed from football into politics by attacking the host state itself.
