Egypt Not at World Cup to Make Up the Numbers, Says Coach Hassan After Belgium Draw
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan declared that his team did not travel to the 2026 FIFA World Cup simply to fill a place in the tournament, after the Pharaohs produced a spirited performance to draw 1-1 with Belgium in their Group G opener on Monday.
Emam Ashour gave Egypt the lead with a brilliant 20th-minute strike, and the North Africans held their advantage until the 66th minute, when Romelu Lukaku — introduced as a substitute — forced an own goal from Mohamed Hany to level the match. Egypt registered 14 goal attempts over the course of the game, a statistic that underscored their ambition against one of the tournament’s higher-ranked sides.
“We are definitely not here just to make up the numbers. The win was in our hands today,” Hassan said after the match. “I’m not the one to talk about Egypt’s stature. The players are top quality, and we have two of the best players in the world with us. They give us motivation.”
The coach was referring to captain Mohamed Salah and striker Omar Marmoush, though he was careful to emphasise that Egypt’s campaign rests on collective effort rather than individual brilliance. “We do not rely on a single player but on a collective 26,” he said. “Salah, Marmoush, they give it their all, they were really, really giving everything with their ferocious transitions.”
The draw against Belgium carries particular significance for a nation making only its fourth appearance at the World Cup. Egypt’s best previous campaign came in 1990, when they managed two draws and a defeat. Hassan, who was part of that 1990 squad, is now trying to build something different — a team defined by mentality as much as talent.
“I told them that we have to have a new national identity for our national squad,” he said. “We try to work on the mindset of the players, prepare our players and try to build their confidence that they are a strong team.”
With a population of 120 million behind the team, Hassan stressed the importance of depth. The squad’s ability to compete across three group matches — Egypt face New Zealand and Iran next — will depend on contributions from all 26 players, not just the headline names.
The result against Belgium, which Lukaku’s late intervention salvaged for the Red Devils, suggests that Egypt are capable of troubling any opponent in this tournament. Hassan described the draw as a win against a “big rival,” and the performance will have done little to dampen belief in the dressing room that this World Cup campaign can be historic.
Image Source: GHANAIAN TIMES
