Hossam Hassan welcomed Egypt’s victory over Zimbabwe at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, choosing reflection over celebration after a hard fight that tested his players.
The coach praised the response shown in a 2 to 1 comeback, but stressed that the night exposed habits that can punish any side at this level. His tone was calm and firm, aimed at sharpening focus before tougher games arrive.
“What happened was a lesson for the Egypt players, and I told them the tournament is not easy at all. What I feared happened, and we could have avoided conceding Zimbabwe’s goal,” he said.
Hassan felt Egypt controlled long spells and created enough chances to decide the contest earlier. Wasteful finishing, however, allowed Zimbabwe to grow in belief after scoring first, turning a routine evening into a demanding contest that required patience and character.
Looking ahead, Hassan made it clear that Egypt will treat every match like a final. He believes progress will depend on steady improvement, discipline in both boxes, and collecting three points. Egypt sits top of Group B.
