Egypt’s head coach, Hossam Hassan, insists Senegal is not a threat, as his team looks to prove why they are seven-time African champions.
Egypt and Senegal will clash in the semifinals of the ongoing AFCON, Morocco 2025, this evening.
Addressing the media during a press conference ahead of the match, Hassan said Senegal does not intimidate his team.
“Senegal is not a bogey team for the Egyptian national team. We are seven-time African champions, and there is no such thing as a bogey team in football. Anyone who faces the Egyptian national team plays with fear in their heart, and the provocative videos circulated about us motivate us before matches,” he said.
“We approach this semi-final with great respect for our opponent, but also with great preparation; we are mentally ready. We know the team we are facing, and we also know our strengths. Each team has its own way of playing and its own strategy, and we have prepared accordingly,” added the Egyptian boss.
Pape Thiaw grounded ahead of semifinal
Meanwhile, Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw said his team is fully focused on reaching the final.
“We’re preparing for this match with the utmost rigour, leaving no room for distractions that could derail our focus,” he said. “We know we are facing a very strong Egyptian side, arguably the most star-studded team in Africa, one that is tactically disciplined and mentally seasoned by years of playing at this level.”
“We approach this challenge with great respect, but also with real ambition. We’re determined to win and reach the final. Above all, we remain faithful to our playing philosophy, because we believe it is the key that can make the difference,” Thiaw concluded.
In their previous 15 meetings across all competitions, Egypt has won seven games, Senegal five, and three matches ended in a draw.
At this AFCON tournament, both teams have recorded two victories each, with one game ending in a draw.
Their last encounter came in the 2021 edition, where Senegal emerged victorious to claim their first AFCON title.
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