File Photo: Egypt s Mostafa Mohamed celebrates. AFP
“All we're talking about is going to the World Cup. We just need to win and make the people of Egypt happy,” Mohamed said in an interview with FIFA’s official website.
“We have full confidence. Our next game is at home against Ethiopia, then we travel to face Burkina Faso. We’ll do our best, as always," said the 27-year-old, who made his international debut in March 2019 under then-coach Javier Aguirre.
Under coach Hossam Hassan, Egypt lead Group A in the African qualifiers for the World Cup with 16 points from six matches, five points ahead of second-placed Burkina Faso.
They need six points to book a ticket to North America.
After a 28-year hiatus, the Pharaohs reached the 2018 World Cup in Russia but exited in the group stage. Then, they missed the 2022 edition in Qatar after a heartbreaking loss to Senegal in the qualifiers.
“We’ll give 100% to qualify this time,” said Mohamed, who scored 13 goals and provided six assists in 47 appearances for the Pharaohs.
“I want to go to the final. I want to win the World Cup,” he added. “Sometimes you need luck, but it would be a great moment. For my first World Cup, I hope to play, score, and win the tournament.”
After rising to stardom with Zamalek, Mohamed joined Nantes on loan from the Turkish side Galatasaray in 2022. He moved to the French side permanently in July 2023 after scoring 11 goals and five assists in 51 matches.
This season, he has scored five goals and registered one assist in 27 appearances for Nantes across all competitions.
“There’s no big difference — it’s my job to score goals,” he said.
“Whether with Egypt or Nantes, when I score, I help the team and make fans happy. In Nantes, I make 40,000 people happy. In Egypt, it’s 100 million.”
Mohamed also spoke about the impact of playing under head coach Hossam Hassan, the legendary Egyptian striker who has been at the helm of the National Team since February 2024.
“My father always dreamed I would meet Hossam Hassan. He said he was the best striker in Egypt’s history,” Mohamed said.
“After I met him, I called my father and said: ‘One of your dreams has come true — Hossam Hassan is my coach now.’ My father told me: ‘Just learn, just listen, and try your best to be like him.’”
“He gives me advice on movement, finishing, and how to be more effective in the box. We talk a lot,” he said.
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