Few expected it to look this calm. Fewer still expected it to work this smoothly. But as the Africa Cup of Nations gathers pace, Egypt are quietly, stubbornly unbeaten — and looking more balanced than they have in years under Hossam Hassan.
When Hossam Hassan took charge in early 2024, the reaction back home was mixed at best. Admiration for the man, yes. Faith in the appointment? Not quite. Nearly two years later, those doubts are fading fast.
From scepticism to stability on the bench
Egypt’s decision to hand the national team to a local legend raised eyebrows across the continent.
For more than a decade, the Pharaohs had leaned heavily on foreign coaches. The assumption was simple: experience from Europe or South America meant structure, discipline, and progress. Hassan, despite his iconic playing career, arrived without major coaching silverware to back his reputation.
Critics pointed to his modest spells at domestic clubs. Supporters argued that no one understood Egyptian football culture better than him.
For a while, it was hard to tell who was right.
Now, with Egypt easing into the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations, the picture feels clearer. This team looks settled. It knows what it wants to do. And perhaps more importantly, it knows what it doesn’t need to force.
Group stage progress without panic or noise
Egypt sealed qualification with seven points from three matches, finishing top of their group and becoming the first side to book a place in the last 16.
The numbers matter, but the manner matters more.
Victories over Zimbabwe national football team and South Africa national football team gave Egypt early breathing space. By the time they faced Angola national football team on Monday, qualification was already secure.
Hassan rotated his squad heavily for that final group match. The result was a goalless draw, but it came without stress. No chasing. No frantic moments. Just control.
After six straight draws across the previous two AFCON tournaments, this felt like a reset.
A team that finally looks balanced
Past Egypt sides often leaned too heavily on moments of magic. One goal here, one flash there. When it worked, it was thrilling. When it didn’t, the team looked flat.
This version feels different.
The defence has been compact. Midfield roles are clearer. The attack isn’t rushed. Players seem to understand their jobs and stick to them.
There’s less desperation in possession. Less overthinking. More patience.
That’s not accidental.
Hassan has simplified the approach. Shorter passing spells when needed. Direct play when space opens. No obsession with style points.
It’s not flashy. But it’s effective.
And in tournament football, effective usually wins.
Hassan’s fingerprints are all over this side
One of the biggest changes has been psychological.
Hassan, the fierce striker who never backed down on the pitch, has carried that edge into his coaching without turning it into chaos. Training sessions, by most accounts, are intense. Expectations are clear. Selection is based on form, not reputation.
Players who drift are dropped. Players who perform stay in.
That clarity has filtered into matchdays.
Egypt rarely look rattled now. Even when pressed, they reset rather than rush. When leading, they manage the game instead of chasing a second goal blindly.
It’s a subtle shift, but a meaningful one.
Depth tested, depth delivered
Rotating the squad against Angola was a calculated call.
With top spot already wrapped up, Hassan chose to protect key players while testing his bench. The second-string side didn’t sparkle, but they didn’t collapse either.
That matters heading into the knockouts.
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Core starters got rest
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Fringe players gained minutes
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Tactical shape stayed intact
For a team often accused of being overly reliant on a few names, that’s progress.
Egypt may not have the deepest pool in the tournament, but they now look like a group rather than a collection of individuals.
Results easing pressure back home
Egyptian football lives under a microscope. Every decision is debated. Every draw becomes a crisis. Every loss, a national discussion.
That pressure hasn’t vanished. It never does.
But unbeaten progress has bought Hassan something valuable: time.
Fans who questioned his credentials are starting to soften. Media coverage has shifted tone. The conversation is less about whether he belongs in the job and more about how far this team can go.
That’s a big change in a short span.
The road ahead won’t be forgiving
Group stages are one thing. Knockout football is another beast entirely.
Egypt will soon face opponents with nothing to lose and everything to prove. Games will tighten. Margins will shrink. One mistake could undo weeks of good work.
Still, there’s a sense this side is better equipped for those moments than previous versions.
They defend leads better. They manage tempo smarter. And they don’t seem burdened by the weight of past failures.
That mental reset could be the difference.
A former striker finding his voice as a coach
Hassan’s journey from legendary forward to national team coach has not been smooth.
He stepped into a role that devours reputations. He inherited a squad used to different philosophies. And he did it knowing patience would be limited.
Yet here he is, almost two years in, guiding an unbeaten Egypt into the AFCON knockouts with minimal drama.
