The Tanger-Casablanca TGV doesn’t please him: Hossam Hassan’s whim that makes the web laugh

The meeting with the media, organized this Friday at the Mohammed V stadium, was marked by the categorical refusal of the coach to exchange with the local press. When questioned about the technical shortcomings of his team during the semi-final lost against Senegal, Hossam Hassan described the questions as a "lack of respect" and an attack on "journalistic ethics". This clash led to the collective departure of the Egyptian journalists from the room, in support of their coach.

To justify the elimination of the "Pharaohs", the coach reiterated a series of logistical and organizational grievances. He notably mentioned hotel rooms infested with mosquitoes, rest periods deemed insufficient compared to his opponents, and a train journey between Tangier and Casablanca that he would have preferred to make by air. Hossam Hassan also suggested the existence of "external forces" acting to prevent Egypt from reaching the final, linking these alleged obstacles to a "jealousy" in the face of the country’s historical record, holder of seven continental titles.

This positioning contrasts with the official line adopted by the Egyptian Football Federation. In a letter addressed to Fouzi Lekjaa, the president of the Egyptian body, Hany Abo Rida, took the time to praise the organizational excellence of Morocco. He described the system put in place by the Kingdom as a model of professionalism for African football, while expressing his gratitude for the welcome reserved for the Egyptian selection.

In the media, the coach’s outings have provoked contrasting reactions. While some Egyptian supporters back his discourse, regional observers, like the Saudi commentator Waleed Alfarraj, have criticized an attitude deemed inappropriate for a representative of national football. Saturday’s match against Nigeria is the final sporting deadline for the Egyptian selection in this competition, before a technical assessment expected by the sports authorities in Cairo.