Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan has lavished praise on South Africa coach Hugo Broos and his “talented” squad following the Pharaohs’ narrow victory at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Friday.
Egypt sealed qualification to the round of 16 with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Bafana Bafana, Mohamed Salah converting from the penalty spot to settle the contest.
Hassan admitted he expected a stern test from the 1996 African champions, pointing to the quality within the South African squad.
“We knew it would be difficult; Bafana Bafana have many talented players. Since the draw was held in Morocco, we knew the game against South Africa would be difficult, as they have many talented players,” Hossam said after the game, as per Goal.
The former Egypt striker also highlighted his side’s resilience, recalling their previous outing and the circumstances of Friday’s win.
“We played the game against Zimbabwe as a final, managing a comeback and a win. Today, we played a full half with only ten players and still secured the victory.”
Hassan went on to commend his players for their discipline and tactical execution.
“I thank all the players for executing our tactics well and closing down South Africa’s players effectively.
“I am happy that we don’t rely on a static tactic; we adapt our approach for every game,” he added.
South Africa will conclude their group campaign against Zimbabwe, while Egypt are set to face Angola in their final group fixture.
