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Hossam Hassan is appointed as the manager of the Egyptian national football team by the Egyptian Football Association, February 6, 2024. /Reuters Hossam Hassan is appointed as the manager of the Egyptian national football team by the Egyptian Football Association, February 6, 2024. /Reuters
Hossam Hassan has been appointed as the manager of the Egyptian national football team, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced on Tuesday. His twin brother, Ibrahim Hassan, became the team director.
The team fired Hossam Hassan's predecessor, Rui Vitoria, on February 4 after being eliminated from the on-going Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d'Ivoire at the Round of 16 by the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In fact, as a seven-time AFCON winner, Egypt barely made it out of Group B with three 2-2 draws against Mozambique, Ghana, and Cape Verde. The team's ace striker, Mohamed Salah, has been sidelined since he was injured in the second group game. Then Egypt lost their starting goalkeeper, Mohamed El Shenawy, who suffered a shoulder dislocation against Cape Verde.
The Round of 16 game between Egypt and DR Congo reached a penalty shootout. Both teams sent their goalies for the ninth attempt. Mohamed Abou Gabal's shot hit the crossbar for Egypt before Lionel Mpasi fired his spot kick into the goal, sending DR Congo into the quarterfinals.
Ahmed Fatouh (L) of Egypt and Meschack Elia of the Democratic Republic of the Congo compete for the ball in the Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 game at the Stade Laurent Pokou in San Pedro, Cote d'Ivoire, January 28, 2024. /CFP Ahmed Fatouh (L) of Egypt and Meschack Elia of the Democratic Republic of the Congo compete for the ball in the Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 game at the Stade Laurent Pokou in San Pedro, Cote d'Ivoire, January 28, 2024. /CFP
The EFA didn't wait for Vitoria's contract to expire in 2026 and sacked him immediately. Although there were reports about Egypt looking for a foreign manager, such as Herve Renard of France, to succeed Vitoria, the EFA decided to go with Cairo-born Hossam Hassan.
As the all-time leading scorer of the Egyptian national team with 68 goals in 176 games, Hossam Hassan helped them win three of their seven AFCON titles in 1986, 1998 and 2006. He retired as a player in 2008 and has managed a series of Egyptian clubs as well as the Jordanian national team since then.
Ibrahim Hassan scored 14 goals in 131 appearances for Egypt and accompanied his twin brother during his managerial career.
