Angles on the pitch: Egypt’s Hassan defends Hany and calls for Moroccan backing as AFCON 2025 heats up

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan previews Angola clash

Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan says the upcoming match against Angola holds special significance for the Pharaohs, even though they have already secured a place in the AFCON 2025 knockout stage in Morocco after winning the first two games.

In a Sunday press conference, he added that they aim to extract the maximum technical benefit from the Angola game and will play to win despite the strength of the opponent.

He continued: "Angola is a worthy rival. We respect all opponents and we have the spirit and determination to deliver the best results, with players who can adapt tactically."

He noted that Egypt has 28 players ready to participate, explaining that he used 19 in the first two matches—a good number, as it shows trust in all players and allows flexibility for stars like Zizo and Trezeguet.

He also thanked Moroccan fans for their support, saying Egyptians cheered Morocco at the 2026 World Cup. This is the spirit that unites Arab fans, and they are happy to stay in Agadir for the Round of 16.

He stressed that the road ahead is long; African football is evolving rapidly and no opponent is weak. He praised goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy as a great keeper and expressed confidence in all the keepers.

On Mohamed Hany's red card against South Africa, Hassan defended his player, saying Hany is a passionate fighter and red cards can happen in football.

Finally, he said: "We are ready for any opponent in the Round of 16 and grateful for the Egyptian fans' trust in us and in our senior players."

Punchlines: "If football were a map, we'd be in Agadir—somewhere between 'we're through' and 'we still have to defend the corner'."

"And if we misplace a goal, we'll blame the grass; it’s always greener on the other side."