Hossam Hassan: "Egypt and Nigeria Could Have Been in Africa Cup Final" - Elbotola
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Hossam Hassan: "Egypt and Nigeria Could Have Been in Africa Cup Final"

Hossam Hassan: "Egypt and Nigeria Could Have Been in Africa Cup Final"

17 January 2026at20:44

Hossam Hassan, head coach of the Egyptian national team, stated that the third-place playoff match against Nigeria featured two major teams that could have potentially met in the Africa Cup of Nations final.

Following the defeat to Nigeria in a penalty shootout during the third-place match, Hassan said, "We had a great tournament, and I am proud of my players. We achieved more than we expected before the start of the competition. We stayed until the last day of the Cup, and thankfully, this means we are among the top four teams in the tournament."

He added, "We faced the Nigerian national team, which is considered one of the strongest, and it was possible for us to be together in the final. The chances of the four teams that reached the semi-finals were equal. God willing, we will build on what we have achieved."

What did Hossam Hassan say about Egypt's Africa Cup of Nations performance?

Hassan expressed immense pride in his players, stating they exceeded pre-tournament expectations by reaching the top four and staying until the final day, despite the third-place defeat.

What did Hossam Hassan imply about the strength of the AFCON semi-finalists?

Hassan suggested that all four teams reaching the semi-finals, including Egypt and Nigeria, possessed equal chances of making it to the final, highlighting their competitive strength.
Egypt
CAF Africa Cup of Nations

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