Legendary former Egypt captain Ahmed Hassan has has applauded the organisation and growing quality of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, describing the tournament as “top-notch” as it continues to gain momentum following the successful completion of Match Day One fixtures.
Hassan, a four-time AFCON winner, is in Morocco serving as a CAF Ambassador, bringing his vast experience to a competition he once dominated with the Egyptian national team.
“The organisation has been excellent,” Hassan said in an interview with CAFOnline. “Our Moroccan brothers have done a fantastic job. Technically, the standard of football is improving with every match, and teams are clearly growing stronger. Overall, everything has been very positive.”
- READ ALSO: AFCON Match Preview: Nigeria Vs Tunisia
Widely regarded as one of Africa’s greatest-ever players, Hassan was instrumental in Egypt’s historic AFCON hat-trick triumphs in 2006, 2008, and 2010.
Reflecting on that era, he stressed the importance of unity, mindset, and pride in representing the national team.
“We played with great passion for the Egyptian jersey and truly understood what it meant to represent our country,” he said. “Winning also brings a psychological edge — once you start lifting trophies, you want more. That hunger kept us motivated.”
Hassan acknowledged the strength of the current Egyptian squad, pointing to their AFCON final appearances in 2017 and 2021, while emphasising that teamwork remains the key to success.
“This generation has quality and many outstanding players. They came very close and were unlucky not to win the title. The chance is still there for them, and I’m proud to have been part of the generation that won three consecutive AFCONs,” he added.
While praising Mohamed Salah’s global stature, Hassan cautioned that individual brilliance alone is not enough at the international level. “Salah is a world-class player, but football is a team game,” he said. “Success comes when everyone plays for the jersey, the team, and the country.”
He also highlighted the rise of Omar Marmoush, identifying the forward as a key attacking threat capable of deciding tight encounters.
Looking ahead, Hassan expressed confidence ahead of Egypt’s Group B clash against South Africa on Friday, a rematch of their quarter-final exit at the 2019 tournament. “It will be a tough match because South Africa is strong, but we are still Egypt,” he said. “If we are worried about them, they should be a hundred times more worried about us.” The Pharaohs face South Africa on Friday at 16:00 at the Grande Stade d’Agadir.
CAF