⚽ Family commitment behind Hossam Hassan’s absence
Sources close to the Egypt national team have clarified why Hossam Hassan will not attend the upcoming CAF Strategy Conference, after speculation suggested that his absence could be connected to recent tensions with officials of the Egyptian Football Association.
According to the sources, Hassan’s decision is not related to any dispute with the Egyptian FA. Instead, the Egypt coach has a previously arranged family commitment, as he is expected to attend the wedding of Hassan, the son of his twin brother Ibrahim Hassan, on October 9, which coincides with the main technical discussions at the conference.
Hassan had been among the national-team coaches invited to the event, particularly because the final day will focus on reviewing African teams’ performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and identifying lessons that could be applied ahead of the 2030 tournament.
📢 Absence not linked to Egyptian FA dispute
The sources stressed that Hassan’s decision to withdraw should not be interpreted as a protest or a sign of a dispute with Egyptian football officials.
There had been speculation that recent comments involving Khaled El-Dirandaly, the Egyptian FA’s vice president, may have influenced Hassan’s decision. However, the sources rejected that explanation and insisted that the coach’s absence is connected to a specific family commitment.
Hassan had originally been expected to travel to Cape Verde alongside Hany Abo Rida, president of the Egyptian Football Association, who was also invited to attend the conference.
🌍 CAF Strategy Conference in Cape Verde
The CAF Strategy Conference will take place in Santa Maria on Sal Island, Cape Verde, from October 7 to October 9, 2026.
The event will bring together football administrators, national-team coaches and international experts to discuss the future development of African football and establish strategies leading toward the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
The conference comes after Africa’s strongest World Cup showing yet, with 10 African nations participating in the 2026 tournament and nine reaching the knockout stage. CAF plans to examine the factors behind that progress and identify areas that can be improved.
⭐ Three days focused on African football
The conference begins on October 7 with a Development Committee-related program covering subjects such as coach education, technical development, development programs and investment across CAF’s member associations.
On October 8, the focus moves to a strategic meeting involving the presidents of CAF’s 54 Member Associations, with discussions expected to address the future direction and development of the African game.
The final day, October 9, will be dedicated more heavily to performance analysis, including a detailed review of African teams at the 2026 World Cup and the lessons that can be carried forward to the next major international tournaments.
🏆 Infantino and Wenger among expected participants
The conference is also expected to feature FIFA president Gianni Infantino, alongside international football experts including Arsène Wenger, who leads the FIFA Technical Study Group.
Coaches of Africa’s 10 World Cup representatives will have a central role in sharing their tournament experiences, while coaches from other men’s, women’s and youth national teams are also expected to participate.
🔥 Building toward the 2030 World Cup
CAF hopes to turn the lessons of the 2026 World Cup into practical and sustainable development plans that can improve African football at both national-team and administrative levels.
The discussions will cover coaching, technical development, youth football, investment and long-term planning, with the broader objective of making African football more competitive on the global stage by the 2030 World Cup.
Hossam Hassan’s absence, therefore, appears to be driven by a personal family commitment rather than any confrontation with the Egyptian FA, while the CAF conference prepares to bring together Africa’s leading football figures to discuss the continent’s next phase.
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