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An Obsession That Refuses to Fade

From the very start of their AFCON 2025 campaign, one message has echoed loudly around Egypt: the eighth star. The competition’s most successful nation with seven titles, Egypt have not lifted the trophy since 2010—a wait of more than fifteen years marked by lost finals and accumulated frustration.

The Pharaohs reached the finals in 2017 and 2021, only to fall short on both occasions. That wound remains open for a team accustomed to measuring success in silverware, not promises. “Our people deserve this,” said head coach Hossam Hassan, a three-time AFCON winner as a player. “They’ve been waiting a long time, and we believe we can make it happen.”

Belief Beyond Individual Brilliance

In Morocco, Egypt are not presenting themselves as a team reliant on names, but as a well-drilled collective. Hossam Hassan has built his project around unity, competitiveness, and collective sacrifice, moving the spotlight away from individual stardom.

That message has resonated inside the squad. The pressure of representing a historic African powerhouse remains, but the group has learned to live with it. The instruction is clear: compete as a team, suffer together, and maximize every detail in a tournament where margins are razor-thin.

Recent Scars as Fuel

AFCON 2023 in Côte d’Ivoire left a deep mark. Egypt failed to win a single match—three group-stage draws followed by a penalty shootout elimination against DR Congo in the Round of 16. That disappointment came shortly after the 2021 final defeat to Senegal, reinforcing the sense of missed opportunity.

Now, the objective is to rewrite that story. Internally, the message is one of resilience and learning. Morocco 2025 represents a fresh chance to turn scars into competitive drive.

Leadership, Experience, and the Weight of History

Even with a collective focus, certain figures set the tone. Captain Mohamed Salah leads on and off the pitch. With three goals and one assist in the tournament, his influence extends beyond numbers—setting standards in training and providing calm in decisive moments.

At 33, and after two AFCON final defeats with Egypt, Salah carries unfinished business. He has won everything at club level, but continental glory with his national team remains his most cherished ambition. Alongside him, players like Omar Marmoush add thrust in attack, while defender Yasser Ibrahim brings authority, leadership, and a threat from set pieces.

Egypt head into the quarterfinals carrying the weight of history on their shoulders—but also genuine belief. The eighth star is never easy at AFCON. But if experience, character, and competitive memory still count, the Pharaohs remain firmly in the hunt.

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