A one-week training camp in France for the Under-20 Egyptian women’s national football team has been described as fruitful and positive. The activity was the second part of the protocol between the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) and the French Football Federation (FFF). The first was held in Cairo in February at the EFA’s ‘Goal Project Centre for National Teams’.
The opening ceremony in France took place at the National Centre of Football at Clairefontaine, the national football centre that specialises in training French Football players. FFF Secretary-General Joelle Monlouis opened the ceremony welcoming the Egyptian delegation with hopes to enjoy the training camp and benefit from the football sessions.
This writer was the EFA head of the delegation, and who delivered greetings from the EFA, headed by Hany Abo Rida, a member of the FIFA Council, whose strategy for developing the game focuses on supporting women’s football worldwide.
The EFA message to their French counterpart was that “Egypt, which prides itself on being the cradle of human civilisation for thousands of years, is also proud to join the ranks of women’s football and is racing against time to achieve progress based on scientific foundations and carefully considered experiments to achieve the goals we aspire to in our contemporary world.
“The fusion and mixture of Egyptian civilisation, whose roots extend back to ancient history, with the mechanisms of the modern era, is the equation we strive to achieve through fruitful and continuous cooperation with the French Football Federation. In this regard, we can only extend our sincerest thanks to the French side, which has shown us its full attention and consideration.
“The French Embassy in Cairo is a symbol of its country’s keenness to complete this collaboration, which we appreciate and hope will continue and will expand its provisions.
“This deep gratitude does not only express the position of the Egyptian Federation towards its French counterpart, but it extends to all Egyptian fans who love football and hope to see their teams at all levels advance towards the progressive world of football, and believe that their gateway to this is the ancient continent of Europe, and that their path to this is the beautiful country of France with its people, officials and policies towards the entire African continent and at its heart our country Egypt.”
Sports and Culture Officer at the French Embassy in Egypt Adrian Guillot was the project coordinator in both parts of the protocol. He accompanied the Egyptian delegation to Clairefontaine, following up with the six-day programme. The girls trained daily, morning and afternoon. And with each day, they progressed.
An atmosphere of high spirits, enthusiasm, and discipline prevailed among the players from day one, as the Egyptian staff, led by technical director Amira Youssef, and the French coaching staff worked diligently to create a training environment that stimulates performance and enhances team spirit, as part of the national team’s comprehensive preparation plan for the camp.
Youssef said the French side had praised the performance of the Egyptian national team players, stressing that they did not differ much from the French players in terms of physical and technical abilities, while emphasising the importance of increasing the speed of performance on the field and increasing individual and collective solutions during matches.
“The French side recommended continuing to implement mental exercises that develop quick decision-making, in addition to group exercises that enhance cohesion and harmony within the team,” Youssef said.
“The training camp was an exceptional opportunity for the players to directly interact with the French school, which contributed to the development of many of the players’ individual and collective technical characteristics, which will positively impact their future participation.
“It was extremely beneficial on both the technical and mental levels, both for the coaching staff and the players. The feedback was clearly evident during the mini-match on the final day, which saw an organised and distinguished performance from all players, particularly in both offensive and defensive aspects,” Youssef added. “Special focus was also placed on developing the midfield through specialised training, which contributed to improving the level of coordination between the lines.”
The French side praised the Egyptian players’ spirit and their eagerness to learn and develop, emphasising that they possess promising technical capabilities that are no less than those of their French counterparts.
As part of the training camp, the delegation was invited by its French hosts to visit Paris. The visit included landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum and the Champs-Élysées, in a unique experience that combined culture and history.
Youssef stressed that what was accomplished during the camp constituted “a very advanced step”, and that the Egyptian technical staff must build on it and continue working from where the French experience ended.
Before returning home, the Egyptian delegation was invited for lunch at the Egyptian Embassy by Egypt’s Ambassador to France Alaa Youssef.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 15 May, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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