The opening match of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations between Egypt and Mozambique, culminating in a 2-2 draw, has stirred discontent among Egyptian supporters, notably voiced by Imam Ashour’s father, Captain Ashour.
The critique is directed at the national team’s Portuguese coach, Rui Vitoria, questioning his decisions, particularly the absence of key players Imam Ashour and Ramadan Sobhi against Mozambique.
The highly anticipated clash at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium ended with a shared scoreline, prompting Captain Ashour to express his dissatisfaction in a televised statement on ON Time Sports.
Captain Ashour lamented, “We are not coaches, but as passionate supporters, we are not pleased with the lineup. Where is Fotouh! Where is Imam! Where is Kahraba! We are speaking as Egyptians.”
The veteran midfielder Imam Ashour, in particular, drew attention, with his father expressing disappointment over his non-starting position despite his commendable performance when he entered the field later in the game.
“I wanted us to win the first match.
I’m upset that Imam did not start because he is a distinguished midfielder, and he performed well in the minutes he played after coming on,” Captain Ashour remarked.
Looking ahead, he expressed hope for a victory in the upcoming match against Ghana, scheduled for Thursday.
The Egyptian national team will commence preparations for this crucial fixture on Monday, aiming to secure a win and bolster their standing in Group B.
As the current standings reveal, Cape Verde leads the group with 3 points, followed by Egypt and Mozambique at second and third places, each with one point.
Ghana is positioned at the bottom without any points, making the upcoming clash against them pivotal for Egypt’s aspirations in the tournament.
