"Right now, we have standout players like Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, but beyond them, the pool of players abroad is shrinking. This is an issue we must address." Hassan told On Time Sports.
He highlighted Ibrahim Adel as a rising star with potential and called for strategic efforts to help more players reach Europe's top leagues.
"We need players like Ibrahim Adel to follow in the footsteps of Salah and Marmoush," he added.
Hassan's comments reflect broader concerns about Egypt's football ecosystem, which has historically thrived on the integration of domestic and international talent to compete at the highest levels. With fewer players gaining exposure to Europe's top leagues, Hassan warned of potential stagnation in the national team's progress.
Egypt have currently a few numbers of European-based players. Besides Salah and Marmoush, Sam Morsy captains Premier League side Ipswich, while Mostafa Mohamed, Mohamed Abdelmonem and Ahmed "Kouka" Hassan ply their trade in France's Ligue 1.
World Cup qualifiers
In addition to addressing the talent pipeline, Hassan called for increased fan engagement during the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in March.
"We're entering a decisive phase in the qualifiers, and every match is crucial. Ticket prices are exorbitant, and we need to incentivize attendance by opening stadium gates," he said.
Egypt leads Group A with 10 points, ahead of Guinea-Bissau, and remains on track for the next round of qualifiers.
Hassan also touched upon the need for infrastructure upgrades, citing the logistical challenges of traveling between the Goal Project training facility and Cairo Stadium.
"The distance causes fatigue, but the facility could be invaluable for extended training camps before major tournaments," he noted.
Hassan commended goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy for his consistency and experience, while advocating for greater opportunities for younger goalkeepers like Hamza Alaa.
"We need more goalkeepers of El-Shenawy's caliber to ensure a robust future for the team," he said.
As Egypt prepares for crucial World Cup qualifiers, Hassan's call to expand the pool of international players underscores the need for long-term strategic planning to sustain the country's footballing success.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
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