Minister of Youth and Sports, Mohamed Nabil, showed his support for the Egyptian national football team during their training ahead of the match against Angola. He was welcomed by Hany Abou Rida, president of the Egyptian Football Association, as part of the first round of the African qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Egyptian national team, under the guidance of head coach Hossam Hassan, will face Angola on Friday evening in the first round of the African qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The national team entered their training camp this September to kick off their continental journey, facing Angola and South Sudan in the first two rounds of the qualifiers on September 25 and 29, followed by a match against South Africa on October 4.
The Minister took the opportunity to speak with the players before training began, conveying greetings from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to the Egyptian team. He emphasized the political leadership's interest in Egyptian sports and its ongoing support for national teams, particularly the Egyptian football team.
The Minister noted the improvement in the team's performance recently, both in terms of play and spirit, asserting that the players' efforts demonstrate that Egypt has a team capable of achieving great accomplishments. He added, "I was worried before the World Cup, but you achieved a great accomplishment and presented an honorable image of Egyptian football, instilling great hope in the hearts of the Egyptian people."
The Minister continued, stating: "As an athlete, I see in you the spirit of a united player, emphasizing that team spirit is fundamental, and every player has a role in achieving success. He pointed out that the team's performance during the World Cup, especially in the match against Argentina, garnered worldwide attention and praise, saying, 'The world talked about you after your match against Argentina, proving that the Egyptian team has the ability to compete with the best and achieve remarkable results.'
The Minister affirmed that football holds a special place in the hearts of the Egyptian people, saying: "Football is not just a sport for Egyptians; it is part of the national mood. We expect you to bring joy to our people and achieve results that will make all Egyptians happy."
He added: "National spirit and belonging are always among the most important motivations for achieving accomplishments, and the results we have seen recently confirm that we have a team with spirit and the ability to compete."
Minister to the team: We trust you
The Minister concluded his remarks by saying: "We are confident in you, confident in the coaching staff and the federation. We hope for a strong start in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The entire Egyptian people are behind you, and we hope you will make the fans happy and achieve their aspirations."
