Egypt national team head coach Hossam Hassan has walked back his earlier criticism of the Africa Cup of Nations held in Morocco, offering glowing praise for the country’s organisation, infrastructure and overall hosting of the tournament.
Hassan had previously made strong remarks following Egypt’s semi-final defeat to Senegal, claiming the Pharaohs were treated unfairly due to travel arrangements ahead of the match and what he described as questionable refereeing decisions.
He also suggested that certain parties were determined to prevent Egypt from reaching the final, attributing it to jealousy over the team’s record seven AFCON titles.
His twin brother, Ibrahim Hassan, had also voiced dissatisfaction at the time, criticizing organizational issues and alleging that the team stayed in a “pension” rather than a hotel, adding that players struggled to sleep due to the presence of mosquitoes ahead of the Senegal clash.
However, speaking at a press conference on Thursday attended by Minister of Youth and Sports Dr. Ashraf Sobhi and Egyptian Football Association president Hani Abu Rida, Hossam Hassan struck a markedly different tone.
He said: “It was the most difficult edition and the stadiums were fully equipped, and I am happy to be in a tournament held in a sisterly Arab African country.”
He continued: “We found nothing but respect and appreciation in Morocco, in terms of living and accommodation, and this edition of the tournament was very important in the history of Egyptian football.”
Drawing from his extensive experience, Hassan highlighted Morocco’s advanced facilities and organisation
“Through my participation in many tournaments as a player and coach, I saw in Morocco capabilities and infrastructure like Europe, in addition to permanent insurance, and the accommodation was excellent,” he shared.
He concluded by underlining the success of the tournament as a whole.
“The tournament was very successful, and every tournament has its pros and cons, but we were in a place befitting Africa, with a distinctive infrastructure that I have been talking about since the group stage,” the Egypt coach added.
