Egypt coach Hossam Hassan has accused his rivals of being jealous after their side missed out on a place in the finals after losing to Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals.
Hossam Hassan’s shocking rant (Image: )
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan was furious, incredulously accusing the African Cup of Nations of unfairly treating the Egyptian side. Mohamed Salah & Co. lost 1-0 to Senegal in the semi-finals as the Liverpool superstar’s former Anfield teammate Sadio Mane was the only player on the scoresheet.
Now, the violent incident has sparked conspiracy rumors from one outraged coach. The coach claimed the team was struggling with the competition schedule and everyone was “jealous” of the country’s success in the competition.
Hassan was seen on the field holding seven fingers aloft, corresponding to the number of titles won by his country. After the match, while the referee remained in the center of the field, Egyptian players gestured at the referee and even accused the referee of being rewarded.
Egypt faced Senegal in Tangier after defeating Ivory Coast four days earlier in Agadir, 790 miles away. Senegal had an extra day of rest despite playing Mali in the same stadium where they ultimately won in the semi-finals.
Hassan was not going to let the night go by without highlighting the disadvantages facing his team. The manager seemed to suggest that his team was the target of such a decision.
read more: Hugo Ekitike targets Liverpool’s sharp attack against rivals with sarcastic jiberead more: Will Mohamed Salah return for Liverpool’s next game after losing in the AFCON semi-finals?
“Egypt doesn’t need an excuse or an apology,” he gushed, according to SportyFM. “Egypt is great and no one will try to win seven titles like we did.
“We needed fairness like (Senegal). We played on the same field the day after the Senegal game against someone who was playing in the semi-finals and we were surprised by that.”
“What FIFA law did what happened to the Egyptian team?” he continued. “When a team gets to the semi-finals, do you respect it or do you suffer for it?
Mohamed Salah in despair (Image: Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“You would expect each team to be given a fair break to see a great semi-final, but what happened is that three teams got more rest.
“I told the players to ignore[the chants from the stands]and concentrate. I don’t want to talk about it. We are the Arabs of Africa. Egypt is great, the mother of the Arabs and the mother of Africa in terms of history and titles, and everyone is jealous of us!”
Despite being led by the likes of Salah and Manchester City star Omar Marmouche, Egypt last achieved AFCON glory in 2010 and have won the last two editions.
The Pharaohs finished runners-up to Senegal, who lost on penalties in 2022, with Mane scoring the winning goal, but Salah was tragically not needed as a fifth penalty taker.
Egypt will have to play the third-place match on Saturday, while Senegal will face hosts Morocco or Nigeria in Sunday’s final.
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