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Rabat – Egypt’s coach Hossam Hassan reacted strongly after his team’s 1-0 defeat to Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations semifinal. The loss ended Egypt’s quest for an eighth continental crown, and Hassan voiced frustration over what he described as unfair conditions during the tournament.
Speaking in the post-match press conference, Hassan explained that his players had less recovery time compared to other teams. “We rested for only two days and then played again on the third. We were always traveling. Compare the rest days other teams had to ours. That’s why I feel sorry for my players,” he said.
He added that Senegal enjoyed more favorable conditions. “Our opponents stayed in the same city, same hotel, same beds throughout the competition. We had no such comfort. We suffered from constant travel and lack of rest.”
Hassan then turned to Egypt’s historic record. “Until the end of time, no team will dare to win the Africa Cup seven times like Egypt. I bet on that. Egypt is a great team, and no one will match this achievement,” he declared.
Despite his pride in Egypt’s legacy, Hassan admitted his squad needed fair treatment. “We needed one or two extra days of rest, just like Senegal had. Instead, we played immediately after the quarterfinal.”
Statistics underline Egypt’s struggles in the semifinal; they registered only one shot on target in the 95th minute compared to Senegal’s four.
The defeat means Egypt must wait longer to add to their record seven AFCON titles, while Senegal advances to the final in search of a second continental crown.
