Engineer Hani Abou Rida, the President of the Egyptian Football Association, visited the Egypt U-20 national team's camp to provide support and motivate the players ahead of their crucial match against Zambia. This match, scheduled for Saturday, is part of the third round of Group A in the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, held in Egypt. The tournament serves as a qualifier for the U-20 World Cup in Chile, making every game a significant challenge for the Egyptian team.
Abou Rida visited the team's camp after Friday prayers, where he met with the players in the presence of Mustafa Abu Zahra and Walid Darwish, board members of the Egyptian Football Association, along with the coaching staff led by head coach Osama Nabih. During the meeting, Abou Rida delivered several motivational messages to the players, emphasizing the importance of maintaining high fighting spirit and a strong, courageous performance. He reassured them that belief in their abilities was key to getting back on track and achieving victories in upcoming matches.
In this context, Abou Rida highlighted the need to overcome the loss against Sierra Leone, stressing to the players that they should learn from the experience rather than dwell on the defeat. He also recalled previous tournaments where Egyptian teams had suffered early setbacks but later bounced back to achieve historic success. This reassurance that every team faces challenges at the start of their journey, but success comes with hard work and team spirit, had a positive impact on the players, who felt encouraged by this moral support.
On the other hand, Osama Nabih, the head coach of Egypt U-20, expressed his deep gratitude to Engineer Hani Abou Rida for his continuous support and encouragement for the team. Nabih confirmed that Abou Rida's presence in the camp reflects the spirit of unity and solidarity within the team, which further strengthens the players' and coaching staff's determination to defend Egypt's hopes in the tournament. Nabih also emphasized that the team is focused on the upcoming stage and is working hard to achieve the necessary results to secure advancement in the tournament.
Ahmed Khaled "Kabaka," the captain of Egypt U-20, also expressed his thanks to Engineer Hani Abou Rida, confirming that all players, including himself, have pledged to give their utmost effort in the upcoming matches. "Kabaka" stated that the entire team is committed to making Egyptian fans proud and achieving results that live up to the name of Egypt, with everyone working together as one to progress in the tournament. The captain further noted that the players are learning from each match and striving to improve their performance every time they step onto the field.
Egypt U-20 currently occupies second place in Group A of the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, with 3 points after a win against South Africa in the first round, followed by a loss to Sierra Leone in the second round. Given this standing, the Egyptian team is aiming to secure a victory against Zambia to increase their chances of advancing to the later stages of the tournament.
Preparations for the Zambia match are filled with optimism and determination within the camp, as the players and coaching staff are giving their best to overcome previous setbacks and focus on achieving positive results. The Zambia match is a crucial test for the Egyptian team, as a win will reflect the strength and resilience of the team, providing them with a significant morale boost to continue their journey in the tournament with confidence.
Egypt U-20 aims to return to winning ways and deliver strong performances, with everyone looking forward to fulfilling the aspirations of Egyptian fans and making a strong showing in the continental competition, which also represents a great opportunity for exposure on the global stage in the U-20 World Cup.
