Ibrahim Hassan has said the Egypt national football team are fully prepared for the challenges of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers while insisting the squad’s primary attention remains fixed on the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
His comments came shortly after the qualifying draw for the next Africa Cup of Nations placed Egypt in a group alongside Angola, Malawi and South Sudan.
The draw ceremony, held on Tuesday, officially launched Egypt’s qualification campaign for the continental tournament, which will take place in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in 2027.
Although Egypt are widely regarded as one of Africa’s strongest football nations, Ibrahim Hassan stressed that modern African football has become increasingly competitive and unpredictable.
“The national team is ready for any upcoming challenges, and we always play to win and raise Egypt’s name high in all international forums.”
The Egypt team manager acknowledged the significant improvement made by national teams across the continent in recent years, warning against underestimating any opponent during qualification.
“The team is ready for any tournament or qualifying campaign we participate in. African teams have improved significantly in recent years, and there are no longer any small teams, as was clearly demonstrated in recent African championships. We are doing our utmost to achieve the best possible results.”
His remarks reflected a broader recognition of the changing balance within African football, where traditional powerhouses have increasingly faced difficult qualification campaigns and stronger competition from emerging nations.
Recent editions of continental tournaments have produced several unexpected results, reinforcing concerns among major teams about the growing competitiveness across Africa.
Despite the AFCON draw attracting considerable attention, Ibrahim Hassan made clear that Egypt’s immediate sporting objective remains qualification and preparation for the 2026 World Cup.
“The Egyptian national team, under the leadership of Hossam Hassan, is currently focused entirely on the 2026 World Cup.”
The national side is currently being guided by former Egypt striker Hossam Hassan, who has overseen the team during an important rebuilding phase ahead of the expanded global tournament.
Egypt have been drawn into Group G for the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Belgium, Iran and New Zealand.
The competition, which will be staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico, will feature 48 participating nations for the first time in its history.
The expansion of the tournament has created additional opportunities for teams from Africa, increasing expectations among supporters and football officials across the continent.
Egypt, one of Africa’s most historically successful national teams, are aiming to combine a strong World Cup campaign with another deep run in the Africa Cup of Nations.
The comments from Ibrahim Hassan underline the balancing act currently facing the Egyptian national setup as it attempts to prepare simultaneously for continental competition and the world stage.
With qualification campaigns and international preparations continuing over the coming months, Egypt’s coaching staff appear determined to maintain focus on both objectives while navigating an increasingly demanding football calendar.
