Hossam Hassan sets conditions for Egypt camp ahead of Africa Cup of Nations

Egypt’s national football coach, Hossam Hassan, has laid out his demands for the team’s training camp in the UAE next November, as Egypt gears up for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Hassan met with Egyptian FA president Hani Abu Rida and key officials to plan the camp, which will feature friendly matches against Uzbekistan, Iran, and Cape Verde.

According to Kooora, Hassan objected to playing Cape Verde, preferring to test his squad against top African sides like Nigeria, Senegal, or Morocco. Earlier, he rejected a high-profile match against Brazil due to the short time frame between the Egyptian Super Cup in the UAE (November 6-9) and the start of the international break. The offer to face Brazil had included arranging the game in Europe.

During the meeting, Hassan also requested two warm-up games with African teams before traveling to Morocco for the tournament. Egypt’s group stage opponents include South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Angola, kicking off on December 22.

Abu Rida assured Hassan that all obstacles would be removed to help Egypt reclaim the continental title last won in 2010. Both visited the U-17 squad to encourage players chasing World Cup dreams.

Separately, the Egyptian Football Association refuted rumors about new staff appointments or bonus payments for World Cup qualification, emphasizing that any valid decisions are announced exclusively through official channels. The EFA extended hearty congratulations to Morocco’s youth team after their World Cup victory in Chile, celebrating a proud moment for Arab football