Hassan, 60, was speaking at a press conference attended by Hany Abu Rida, president of the Egyptian Football Association, and Ashraf Sobhi, Minister of Youth and Sports, following Egypt’s fourth-place finish at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
“I thank the Football Association for supporting the national team throughout the past period and for being with us at every moment before and during the Africa Cup of Nations, in addition to the support of Ashraf Sobhi,” Hassan said.
He praised his squad’s unity and commitment, describing them as “a wonderful group of players who shared a family spirit," adding that their responsiveness extended from the team captain to the youngest member of the squad.
Hassan noted the increasing competitiveness of African football posed new challenges to tournament host nations and established teams alike.
He said that Egypt’s unbeaten qualification for the World Cup, finishing five points clear of their group rivals, underlined the team’s strength despite other sides fielding more players based abroad.
Hassan described the Morocco tournament as one of the toughest editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, praising the high level of organization, facilities, and stadiums.
Happy with showing in Morocco
The Pharaohs' tactician defended his team’s overall performance in Morocco, saying the Pharaohs topped their group and eliminated the defending champions before losing to Senegal 1-0 in the semi-final
Hassan attributed the loss to Senegal partly to travel demands and limited recovery time.
“We had no issues with transportation from Agadir to Tangier, but Senegal had the advantage of more rest time while staying in the same city,” he said.
Still, Hassan said he was “completely satisfied” with his players’ effort and dedication, dismissing criticism that Egypt played defensively.
Such views, he said, failed to take into account physical and technical differences, as well as factors affecting consistency and performance.
He added that Egypt used the same approach in the game against Senegal that proved effective in the 3-2 win over Côte d’Ivoire in the quarter-finals.
He also suggested that the goal conceded by the Pharaohs to the Lions of Tiranga was questionable from a refereeing standpoint.
Hassan also said he approached the third-place match against Nigeria, which Egypt lost on penalties, very seriously despite being a placement game.
Looking ahead
Looking ahead, Hassan underlined the need for intensive preparation to bridge technical and physical gaps before the World Cup.
“For Egypt to appear in a good way, preparation must be excellent,” he said, calling for ample time to properly ready the players.
He confirmed that Egypt are set to play high-profile friendlies against Spain, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia, with another match close to being finalized before the World Cup.
Hassan also highlighted his rotation of the squad throughout the tournament, noting that he called on 26 of the 28 selected players during the competition.
Addressing individual cases, he said goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy and full-back Mohamed Hany had faced pressure due to fluctuations in form, while Rami Rabia’s limited playing time after moving to Al Ain affected his match fitness.
He added that Emam Ashour had struggled with illness during the tournament but recovered well and went on to be among Egypt’s standout performers.
Hassan concluded by calling for a reassessment of the Egyptian domestic league, urging the return of large crowds to stadiums and a greater focus on developing young players.
He argued that reducing the number of foreign players allowed per team would help strengthen the national side, warning that reliance on overseas players in key positions limits options for the national team coach.
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