Egypt’s Sun Still Shines: Gomaa Calls for Unity After AFCON Semifinal Defeat

Gomaa questions post-match conduct

Wael Gomaa, the former Egypt defender, criticized the actions of coach Hossam Hassan following Egypt's 1-0 defeat to Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-final held in Morocco.

Speaking on BeIN Sports, he said that Egypt's team, officials, and some players spoke in a despicable manner after the semifinal clash with Senegal.

He added: "What happened was regrettable, and it is not fitting for Egypt to keep citing the seven AFCON titles we have won as a country."

Sunlight of Africa should not be dimmed

“The sun cannot be covered,” Gomaa said, and Egypt’s status on the continent is like a bright sun. We should not keep talking about this issue in a way that diminishes us rather than helps us.

He also noted that Hassan’s remarks contributed to a clear hostility from Moroccan fans, and that not supporting Egypt in the knockout stages is natural, especially since Morocco is a title contender and Egypt is one of its main rivals.

Gomaa also criticized Moroccan journalists for provoking the coach, arguing that journalists are not a party to the dispute.

He stressed that Hassan’s statements and actions helped fuel the animosity, reminding readers that football should unite, not divide, even when the referee has blown the whistle on a tough result.

And in a lighter vein, he hinted that the scoreboard doesn’t lie, yet a sharp tongue can sometimes be worse than a bad offside—let’s keep the focus on the pitch, not the headlines.