Egypt coach Hossam Hassan: “Benin game is the AFCON final”

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan has stressed the difficulty of facing Benin in the Round of 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025.

Egypt will face Benin on Monday evening at Adrar Stadium in Agadir, as part of the knockout stage of AFCON 2025.

 

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Speaking during the pre-match press conference, Hassan said:

“We are at a very important moment for Egypt and our ambitions in the Africa Cup of Nations. Our goal is to reach the quarter-finals, and we have full respect for the Benin national team.”

He added:

“Benin did not reach the Round of 16 by chance. We know they are progressing strongly in the World Cup qualifiers. However, we also have our own ambitions. Egypt is a seven-time African champion, a country of 120 million people, and all our players are determined to make the Egyptian people happy.”

The Egypt coach continued:

“We treat every match as a final. Right now, our full focus is on the Benin game. We have studied their strengths and weaknesses, and God willing, we will deliver a strong performance and qualify for the quarter-finals.”

Hassan emphasized the importance of respecting opponents, saying:

“The match against Benin will be extremely difficult. Anyone who wants to win the tournament must respect all opponents. For me, this game is the AFCON final, and all the players understand that.”

He concluded by addressing the pressure:

“I constantly put myself under pressure and live with it, but my only goal is the interest of my country and the Egyptian people. Football is loved by everyone in Egypt, and pressure is normal. I translate pressure into hard work, preparation, and studying the opponent. That is the duty of any head coach.”

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