Wael Riad: The victory over Libya represents an important beginning... and we are capable of producing an exceptional generation for Egypt.
Wael Riyad, the coach of the Egypt U-20 national team, expressed his great joy at the valuable victory achieved by the Pharaohs over the Libyan team, emphasizing the importance of a strong start.
Riyad said in statements after the match: "The match was very difficult, and it was essential to win at the beginning of our journey to collect points and build confidence among the players."
Dealing with a Numerical Disadvantage and Wasted Opportunities
The Pharaohs' coach pointed out that the team faced unusual circumstances during the match, highlighting the tactical maturity of his players: "We played with a numerical disadvantage just 15 minutes into the match, but we managed to quickly overcome the situation and control the flow of the game," he added: "We wasted many easy chances in front of goal, and the score could have been greater in our favor."
Humility and Fan Support in Ismailia
Wael Riyad emphasized the importance of focusing on the upcoming matches, stating: "We will approach all upcoming matches with great humility, and our only goal is to play for victory."
He concluded his statements by expressing gratitude and support: "I dedicate this victory to the Egyptian fans and to the board of the Football Association, which provides us with all the resources. I assure you that we are capable of producing a remarkable generation that will serve Egyptian football in the future. The atmosphere in Ismailia is very positive, and I thank the fans who made the effort to attend and support us."
The Egypt U-20 team "born in 2007" defeated Libya 2-0 at the start of their campaign in the North Africa U-20 qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations.
The youth team entered the tournament with a rich roster of many young and promising players, including: Iyad Tamer, Omar Abdel Aziz, Youssef Al-Bashir, Iyad Medhat, Mohamed Abdel Basir, Nour Ashraf, Abdullah Bdeir, Hamza Al-Dajwi, Mohamed Awad, Mohamed Farag, Mohannad Al-Shami, Omar Al-Amin, Mohamed Samir Kunta, Omar Tharwat, Mohamed Raafat, Jonas Al-Mallah, Yassin Atef, Omar Al-Azab, Mohamed Hamad, Adham Karim, Mahmoud Salah, Anas Rushdi, Mohamed Haitham, Ali Al-Jarahi, and Mohamed Abdel Fattah Taha.
The North Africa U-20 qualifiers feature five teams: host Egypt, along with Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and Libya, with only the top two teams qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations 2027 in Ghana.
