Egypt coach Hossam Hassan insists the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is a good experience for the upcoming 2026 World Cup tournament to be staged in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
The Pharaohs hope of securing their eighth AFCON title took a nosedive on Wednesday after succumbing to a 1-0 defeat to Senegal in a high-stake semi-final showdown.
Sadio Mane’s 78th-minute strike was enough for the Taranga Lions to secure a place in the final, while Egypt settles for the third-place fixture.
Egypt will now take on Nigeria in the third-place game, scheduled for Saturday, January 17, 2026 at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca.
Ahead of the Nigeria clash, Hossam Hassan has highlighted the importance of the AFCON tournament for the upcoming World Cup tournament.
“I think that the Egyptians, as much as they are sad about the last match, are happy to have a good team, and participating in the African Cup of Nations is the best preparation for the World Cup.”
“Reaching the semi-final is a good result. We tried more than one approach, and we were hoping to play in the final.”
Egypt have been paired in Group G against Belgium, New Zealand and Iran. The global showpiece has been scheduled to take place between June and July.
