Egypt coach Hossam Hassan has declared his ambition to guide his side to victory at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The seven-time champions have been drawn into Group B alongside South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe.
Ahead of their opening match on Monday, Hassan, a three-time AFCON winner as a player, emphasised that the team has both the experience and mentality needed to claim the trophy, which has eluded them since 2010.
“Everyone in the Egyptian national team already has a winning mentality, which is fantastic. Thank God, I managed to win titles with the Egyptian national team as a player in 1998, 2006, and 2008,” he told CAF Media.
“We will do everything possible to reach the top and lift the trophy again this year. Achieving that requires tremendous effort from every member of the team.
Hassan highlighted Egypt’s standing in African football, noting the team’s storied history in the tournament.
“Egypt is always among the favourites in any competition because of its rich history, particularly in the Africa Cup of Nations, where we hold the record with seven titles.”
While acknowledging the strength of their group rivals, Hassan insisted that his team is focused on winning every match.
“I have great respect and admiration for them. All teams in the group are strong and have important, professional players. African football has developed a lot in recent years, but we will give our all to win the title and make the Egyptian people happy.”
Egypt’s campaign kicks off against Zimbabwe at Stade Adrar, with the match set for 20:00 GMT.
