Helmy Toulan After Arab Cup Exit: 'This Team Was Born an Orphan and Lacked Support'

Helmy Toulan, coach of the Egyptian national team, expressed his anger after the loss to Jordan and their exit from the Arab Cup, highlighting the significant difficulties the team faced during the tournament.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Toulan stated, "We came to the tournament without seven key players, and I was forced to call up new ones. Whose responsibility is this? Fifteen national teams in the Arab Cup had their domestic leagues suspended for their participation. I take full responsibility and do not shy away from it."

Toulan also addressed how some officials viewed the competition, asserting, "Some officials consider the Arab Cup a friendly tournament, not an official one, and this impacted how the Egyptian national team participating in the competition was treated."

Regarding the players' performance, he commented, "The players gave their all within their capabilities. I only thank two individuals who supported and backed this team: Hany Abou Rida, the head of the Football Association, and media personality Medhat Shalaby."

He continued, "This team was born an orphan due to deliberate actions. I am not looking for excuses or justifications, but what I am saying is the truth. The Egyptian national team participating in the tournament did not find genuine support, and before we even arrived, we were told the matches were friendly and not official."

He added, "The Egyptian League did not stop because they considered the Arab Cup a friendly tournament and that the league was more important than the national team. This was stated by one of the officials. There are some matters that urgently need to be resolved in Egyptian football."

Toulan further stated, "The person responsible for the humiliation the national team suffered in the Arab Cup is only one individual, and everyone knows him. He held the decision to suspend the league or not, but he refused and sacrificed the reputation of the Egyptian national team and Egyptian football."

He concluded, "I was entrusted with this mission under very difficult circumstances. No one would accept taking on this responsibility with only three months to form and prepare the national team and participate in the Arab Cup. That is why I accepted this task after being assigned it without compensation."