Egypt's Coach Explains the 0-2 Loss to Uzbekistan: A Learning Curve Before AFCON

What happened in the match

Egypt’s coach Hossam Hassan expressed disappointment after the Pharaohs were beaten 0-2 by Uzbekistan in the Eye Cup semi-final held in the United Arab Emirates, noting that the main aim of friendlies is to assess tactical readiness and identify fixes ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Hassan stressed that the team faced a very tough night due to the absence of a large number of key players.

He explained that the squad missed 10 regulars, including Mohamed El Shennawy, Mohamed Abdel Monem, Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet,” Ibrahim Adel, Omar Marmoush, Hamdi Fathy, Imam Ashour, and Mohanad Lasheen — most of whom are core components of the national team.

These absences clearly affected cohesion and on-field performance, particularly in the early stages of the match.

The manager noted that despite the difficult circumstances and the forced changes, the squad played to win as it always does. He added that the second half showed a marked improvement in performance and real potential for the team to create chances, even though finishing let them down on several occasions.

He also said that several new players were given minutes to gain international experience and strengthen the squad’s depth for the big tournaments, with inclusions such as Marwan Osman, Zlaka, and Salah Mohsen forming part of the plan to broaden the selection and identify future contributors.

Hassan gave special praise to the young Marwan Osman, saying his international debut looks very promising and that he could play a meaningful role for the Pharaohs in the coming periods if he stays disciplined and continues to work hard.

The coach welcomed the returns of Ahmad Fattouh and Taher Mohamed Taher, saying their comeback provides a significant boost in their respective positions as the team gears up for the Africa Cup of Nations.

What’s next for Egypt?

The loss to Uzbekistan was painful, with Uzbekistan’s standout performer Austin Orinov scoring twice to seal the win and advance to the final of the tournament, capitalizing on defensive errors and moments of lapse in concentration.

The defeat marks the second loss for Egypt under Hassan, following a 2-4 defeat to Croatia in a March 2024 friendly in Cairo.

Nonetheless, Hassan stressed that work continues to restore balance and full readiness ahead of the African Cup of Nations. He underscored that the experimental phase is necessary to uncover strengths and weaknesses before entering official competition.

Egypt is set to face Cape Verde in the third-place match on Monday, a key test to refine positional play and mental focus before the final build-up for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, scheduled from December 21 to January 18.

The Pharaohs’ technical staff hopes for a strong display and a positive result to boost confidence and morale after recent criticisms of their performances.

Uzbekistan, under Italian coach Fabio Cannavaro, will play the tournament final against Iran, having delivered solid performances that underline their rise as a notable Asian side in recent years.

Hassan closed by reiterating that Egypt is in a transitional phase requiring patience and public support, while the coaching staff pushes hard to rebuild a squad capable of competing with the best in major tournaments. The coming period will feature more structured training and better cohesion between returning veterans and fresh additions as the team prepares for the next challenges, including the World Cup 2026 qualifiers and the Africa Cup of Nations.

In short, Egypt’s journey continues, with a blend of experience and youth aimed at restoring the country’s continental and global standing.

And yes, you can call it a rebuild, but at least the press conferences are now longer than the actual goal celebrations. Punchline 1: If tuning a team were as easy as tuning a guitar, Hassan would be a rock star—just with more oranges in the bench. Punchline 2: They say practice makes perfect; tonight’s practice just made the headlines louder than the net—goalposts still missing, though.