Press reports claimed that Hani Abu Rida, the head of the Egyptian Football Association, decided to dismiss Hossam Hassan and his brother after they got into arguments with journalists during the press conference before the Nigeria match, which will be held today, Saturday, to determine the third-place winner in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Hossam Hassan, the coach of the Egyptian national team, became agitated with a Moroccan journalist who asked him a question regarding the controversial statements he made after the loss to Senegal in the semi-finals.
A Moroccan journalist asked coach Hossam Hassan: "Would it have been better to be honest with the Egyptian fans about the poor technical level in the Senegal match instead of talking about the organization and accommodation?" Hossam replied: "Your question lacks respect and you lack tact."
A source within the Egyptian Football Association stated that Hossam Hassan and his coaching staff will continue as normal in leading the national team in the 2026 World Cup, clarifying that this decision is final.
The source said that Hossam Hassan and the players performed well in the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, and the fighting spirit was evident in their performance in all matches, and the loss to Senegal in the semi-finals will not change anything.
He pointed out that the Football Association and Hossam Hassan have already started making arrangements for the World Cup through a strong preparation program for the tournament in order to achieve outstanding results and reach the furthest point.
The Pharaohs had suffered a (1-0) defeat against Senegal in the semi-finals, while Nigeria lost on penalties to Morocco after the original and extra time ended in a goalless draw.
