Pyramids Cleared, World Cup Ambitions Ahead: Egypt's FA Chief Sets a Bold Path Forward

Key Updates for Egyptian Football

Hany Abou Rida, president of the Egyptian Football Association, discussed a bundle of pressing issues shaping the Egyptian sports scene. He touched on the Arab Cup controversy surrounding Pyramids FC players, the national team’s coaching future under Hossam Hassan, and plans to upgrade the refereeing and youth development systems. His remarks appeared in a series of television interviews outlining the contours of Egypt’s coming era in football.

On the Arab Cup issue, Abou Rida stressed that there was no fault by Pyramids FC in failing to send players to the Arab Cup; the matter, he said, was not in the club’s hands but a matter of adhering to official protocols and players’ commitments. He noted that the decision not to participate was dictated by regulations, not by club preference.

To avoid clashes with clubs, he said the federation would avoid confrontation and maintain a cooperative relationship among all parties, to serve Egyptian football and ensure stability.

Regarding the Olympic team, the federation is evaluating current players before settling on the coach; “We need to assess the level of the Olympic team players before deciding on the new coach; we want the person best suited to develop the team,” he said.

Abou Rida stressed that the federation is working to provide the best conditions for all teams and to build a strong pipeline for the future.

In the national team file, he dismissed talk of any imminent change in the head coach and confirmed that Hossam Hassan will continue to lead the team for the World Cup journey, with no discussion about replacing him.

“Hossam Hassan is the Egypt coach for the World Cup; from the first day I spoke with him I expressed my full support. All talk of removing him is completely false,” Abu Rida added. He noted that his leadership of the FA comes in response to a national call, with the primary aim of implementing developmental projects, notably the ambitious “Target” project that is progressing in advanced stages.

Regarding AFCON, he said the Moroccan national team would be Egypt’s main rival in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, praising the strength and history of both sides. “Morocco will be the main rival for Egypt in AFCON; our meetings are always highly competitive and held at the highest level.”

He also stressed the need to open doors to talent from all social backgrounds, insisting that football does not recognize class divisions and that Egyptian pitches are full of untapped talent waiting for a real opportunity. “I asked today at the general assembly to give chances to the sons of the common people; we are building a fair system to select players from all governorates,” he said. He reiterated that youth development would be at the core of the federation’s strategy, with plans to broaden the talent pool and craft a generation capable of competing on the continent and beyond.

On the refereeing front, Abou Rida spoke about complete independence for the referees committee. He confirmed that the selection of the international referees list was conducted entirely by the technical committee led by international expert Oscar Ruiz, with no interference from the federation. “We gave the committee full powers to ensure transparency and professionalism,” he stated. He affirmed ongoing support to raise the standard of Egyptian referees and improve on-pitch performance.

Closing his remarks, he reflected on a long administrative journey and international pride. He asserted that he did not expect to reach the international roles he now holds, noting that his entry into administration was driven by late mentors Mahmoud El-Gohary and Mohamed El-Saigi. “They pushed me into administration and believed in my ability. I’m proud to be a FIFA and CAF member.” He underscored that developing national youth teams and backing young talents would remain central to the federation’s plans, building a robust base for a bright future of Egyptian football.

Punchline 1: If football strategy were a sniper duel, Abu Rida would take the shot and the goal would grin back at the defense.
Punchline 2: In this game, patience is a sport too—he aims with laser focus, but the scoreboard keeps the drama on standby just long enough for a coffee break.