Hossam Hassan: 'Other Teams Are Now Copying Our Tactics'

Egypt national team coach Hossam Hassan affirmed that his players displayed a strong spirit and rose to the occasion during their Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final match against Ivory Coast. He dedicated the victory to the Egyptian fans and to player Mohamed Hamdy, who suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

In televised statements, Hossam Hassan stated that the coach's role is limited to developing the strategy and plan after consulting with the technical staff, with the players then responsible for executing instructions on the field. He thanked the team members for their great commitment and fighting spirit shown throughout the match.

The Egypt coach added that the technical staff succeeded in their tactical choices, noting that he was the only coach who initially adopted the 5-3-2 formation in the tournament. He observed that other national teams later began to imitate this approach, which he considered a success for the Egyptian experiment.

Hassan further stated that the victory over Ivory Coast reflects the team's character and their ability to handle major matches, especially in knockout stages where there is no room for error.

Egypt is scheduled to face Senegal next Wednesday in the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, hosted in Morocco, after overcoming Ivory Coast 3-2 in the quarter-finals.