AFCON 2025: Why we lost to Nigeria - Egypt coach

Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan has attributed his side’s defeat to Nigeria in the AFCON 2025 third-place match to the absence of several key players.

The Super Eagles claimed a record-extending ninth bronze medal after defeating the Pharaohs 4–2 on penalties, following a goalless draw in regulation time.

Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali emerged as the hero of the shootout, saving spot-kicks from Premier League stars Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush to secure victory.

Speaking during his post-match press conference, Hassan lamented the impact of multiple absences on his tactical setup.

He said, “Today we were missing half the team; seven players were unable to play. The absences we had today could have been painful for any team.”

He revealed that unexpected suspensions further disrupted Egypt’s preparations just hours before the match.

“Yesterday, we worked in the training session and set our plan based on Marwan Attia and Salah Mohsen playing, then after dinner, we learned of their suspension before we went to sleep,” he explained.

Despite the disappointment, Hassan expressed pride in his squad, which is largely made up of players from the Egyptian domestic league.

“All our players are from the Egyptian League; we have a local product except Marmoush, Salah, and Mostafa Mohamed,” he said.

The former Egyptian striker added that he hopes to see more Egyptian players earning opportunities abroad in the future.