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For nearly a century, the Pharaohs have carried the weight of a continent's expectations while enduring the most agonizing curse in World Cup history — and head coach Hossam Hassan is determined that this, finally, is the moment the chains are broken! Egypt's footballing pedigree is beyond dispute: seven African Cup of Nations titles, some of the continent's most decorated club sides, and the distinction of being the first African nation ever to grace a FIFA World Cup back in 1934. Yet the gulf between continental dominance and global success remains a chasm that has swallowed generation after generation of Egyptian talent. While Algeria and Nigeria reached the last 16, Senegal, Ghana and Cameroon stormed to the quarters, and Morocco etched their name into immortality with a semifinal run at Qatar 2022, the Pharaohs could only watch from afar — qualifying for just two more tournaments across that entire span, at Italy 1990 and Russia 2018, and failing to register a single World Cup victory. Now, with a squad boasting the electrifying Mohamad Salah, the dynamic Omar Marmoush and the prodigious Hamza Abdelkarim, the belief is palpable that this could be the tournament to obliterate the underachieving narrative once and for all. A 1-1 opening draw against Belgium provided encouragement but also heightened the urgency — dropped points mean that nothing less than maximum spoils against New Zealand on Sunday will suffice. Hassan spoke with the fire of a man who has lived and breathed Egyptian football for decades, declaring that the target from day one was to advance beyond the group stage and that securing victory against the All Whites is imperative to bring joy to the Egyptian people. He emphasized that the Pharaohs carry the hopes of not just a nation but an entire continent, and that securing that elusive first World Cup triumph would be a watershed moment for African football. Having taken the reins in February 2024, with his very first match in charge being a 1-0 victory over these same opponents in Cairo, Hassan possesses the institutional knowledge and burning desire to finally lead Egypt to the promised land!
