Egypt tied 0-0 with Angola at the opening of the 2027 African Nations qualifiers

The Egyptian national team fell, on its home soil and among its fans, into a goalless draw with its Angolan counterpart, at Cairo International Stadium, in the opening round of the qualifiers for the 2027 African Cup of Nations finals.

Hossam Hassan said during the press conference after the match that the decision to replace Mohamed Salah was a technical point of view for the technical staff, explaining that he bears full responsibility for the changes he makes during the matches.

The Egyptian national team's technical director added that Salah did not leave due to injury, stressing that the player was healthy at the time of his replacement, and that the decision to field another player came in accordance with the technical staff's vision of the match's conduct.

Hossam Hassan stressed that the technical staff is the decision-maker regarding substitutions during matches, saying that his responsibility imposes on him to make the decisions he deems appropriate to serve the team, whether it concerns Mohamed Salah or any other player.

He explained that the departure of the Pharaohs captain does not mean there is a physical problem, pointing out that changes are a natural part of match management, and are taken according to the technical conditions and events of the match.

In the context of his talk about the match, Hossam Hassan was keen to thank the Egyptian national team players, stressing his appreciation for the effort they made during the confrontation with Angola.

The Egyptian national team is preparing to play its next match against South Sudan, on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, in Juba, as part of the second round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.