Ibrahim Hassan, director of the Egyptian national team, has dismissed claims that the Pharaohs requested the cancellation of this season’s Premier League, clarifying that the coaching staff is only seeking an additional week of preparation ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Speaking to ON Sport, Hassan emphasized the strong relationship between the national team and the Clubs Association.
“Our coordination with Ahmed Diab, the head of the association, has been excellent from day one. I thank him for his support, especially during the national team’s camp before the Africa Cup of Nations,” he said.
Hassan highlighted the importance of the pre-AFCON camp, noting that it helped Hossam Hassan enhance the technical and physical readiness of the players.
“The players were very satisfied. They mentioned they don’t receive this level of training at their clubs, with all due respect to every team,” he added.
Addressing the rumors, Hassan said: “Cancelling the league? That never happened. We are surprised by such claims. We never asked for a long training camp or the league to be halted. Decisions like these are up to the authorities.”
He explained that before the Africa Cup of Nations, the team was granted only one week before the scheduled start, with some players from Al-Ahly arriving two days late.
“All we are requesting now is an extra week in May,” Hassan said.
He stressed that league cancellation is not an option, especially as Egyptian clubs continue to compete in African tournaments.
“Al-Ahly and Pyramids have already secured spots in the knockout stages of the CAF Champions League,” he said, adding that knockout matches are scheduled for March 19, 20, or 21, ideally before the international window starting on March 23.
Looking ahead to the World Cup, Hassan noted that preparations are set to begin on May 30, roughly a week before Egypt’s opening match.
“Extending the camp to 9 or 10 days would be ideal, but again, we are not seeking to cancel or postpone the league,” he stressed.
He concluded by reaffirming the balance between domestic competitions and World Cup preparations: “Our priority is to ensure players are ready for the World Cup, while Egyptian teams continue to compete in African championships.”
