Egypt's Wake-Up Call: Coach Claps Back as Arab Cup Hopes Face a Kuwaiti Test
30 November 2025
Arab Cup stakes and the Atef controversy
Egypt coach Ahmed Hassan fired back at Ahmed Atef’s comments after his omission from the Pharaohs’ squad, just hours before the Arab Cup kicks off in Qatar, from December 1 to 18.
The decision to omit Atef came after Pyramids approved the inclusion of their forward Marwan Hamdi in the squad.
Egypt will open their Arab Cup campaign with a high-stakes match against Kuwait on Tuesday night, in Group C alongside Jordan and the UAE.
Hassan told television audiences that there had been a meeting with Atef before departure to Doha about the possibility he would not be in the list, and Atef knew Hamdi could be added; he was surprised by the remarks.
He added that he urged the player to stay in Doha to support his teammates, while coach Hamdi Toulan faced the moment in front of everyone; remaining in the camp became difficult after the comments.
Hassan stressed that Hamdi has been a key player since the first camp, and his inclusion came after talks with the Pyramids management.
Meanwhile, the national team conducted its main training in Doha to prepare for Kuwait.
The coaching staff, led by Hamdi Toulan, is confident in the players’ readiness for the opening match.
Mohamed Awwad and Mahmoud Hamdi El-Wenash, two Zamalek players, arrived in Doha and did recovery work after returning from South Africa, where they faced Kaizer Chiefs.
Training was intense, and the players pledged to give their best in the tournament to deliver a performance worthy of Egyptian football.
It’s expected Marwan Hamdi will arrive early tomorrow to join the final training session in Doha.
Punchline 1: If football were a movie, this drama would be titled "Defense for Dummies" — and the popcorn is free at the bench.
Punchline 2: And if plans were players, Egypt’s tactic would be "draft with snacks"—still undefeated in snacks and benches.
