We Didn’t Fail: Osama Nabih Shapes a Proud U20 Tale From Chile

Overview and outcomes

Osama Nabih, head coach of Egypt's under-20 team, says he did not fail at the World Cup for under-20s in Chile, insisting luck rather than performance clipped the Pharaohs' progress. Egypt bowed out in the group stage after losing to Japan 2-0 and New Zealand 2-1, while defeating Chile 2-0 in the final group game.

They finished level on points with Chile but were eliminated on the fair-play tiebreaker, which chose Chile as the runner-up. Nabih stressed that the exit was a matter of the rules, not the team's effort, noting the side's performance had been rising from game to game, including holding 70% possession against New Zealand, but ultimately couldn't overcome the disciplinary criterion.

He said, "We couldn't control emotions in the Chile match, which was our last chance to advance, and I reject the idea of calling this a failure." He added that he has a name, a history, and had previously helped Egypt's senior team reach World Cup finals under Héctor Cúper, insisting he is not a loser.

He explained that he took charge in February, spent about seven months in the role, and is not apologizing for failure but for the lack of luck. He emphasized that the World Cup qualification was an achievement and that the team had progressed to be among Africa's best third-placed teams with 7 points, even beating Ghana to emphasize the positive side.

He complained that the current federation's setup made it hard to prepare properly for a major tournament, noting that the program for World Cup-level preparation typically begins almost a year in advance, and that the World Cup was moved from Ivory Coast to Egypt.

He defended his record, saying, "We achieved a qualification to the World Cup despite taking the helm in February." He also noted that the team finished among Africa's top third-placed teams with seven points and had a notable victory over Ghana.

He argued that some organizational factors affected preparation and that broader structural issues limited how far the team could go, while stressing that the players gained valuable experience even in defeat against Japan and New Zealand.

He added that his choices in the squad were fair and in line with the available squad size of 18 players plus three goalkeepers, indicating a need to balance experience and youth. He highlighted that several players were not yet ready for the senior team, and that some selections would be reconsidered in future cycles.

He described the dynamics around penalties and in-game decisions, noting specific instances where emotions ran high and some penalty duties were debated among teammates. He said that he preferred to emphasize development and learning over labeling the campaign a failure, arguing that the squad grew throughout the tournament.

“I managed the group with a view toward the next steps,” Nabih explained, pointing to the circumstances that shaped selection and tactics. He stressed that his reputation and history—coaching at national level and contributing to the senior team—underscore his approach and his commitment toEgyptian football.

He pointed out that the team had its share of positives: advancing to a World Cup and performing with resilience against experienced opponents, even if the results did not go Egypt’s way. He insisted the door remains open for reflection, learning, and future opportunities for the players he mentored.

He finished by reiterating that while the results sting, the experience will fuel the next generation, and he is ready to rebuild with lessons learned from this campaign. The federation and fans alike should focus on the progress rather than reduce the story to a single match or a single moment.

Punchline 1: If luck is a player, Egypt’s luck seems to have taken a nap and left the team a memo.
Punchline 2: I coach with history and heart; if the whistle had a memory, it would remember these days by heart—and probably ask for a vacation too.