Collective team effort will push us through: Trezeguet

Egypt forward Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan has reiterated that a concerted team effort will be key to push them past Benin when the two sides play in the Round of 16 of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Morocco 2025 in Agadir on Monday.

Despite having exceptional players within their ranks like Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, Trezeguet believes Egypt’s greatest asset lies in the unity of the team.

“Within the team, there is no player better than another. We all play for one objective. We are defending our country and our flag,” Trezeguet said during the pre-match press conference.

It was with this mindset that the Pharaohs dominated the group stage, finishing with seven points from two wins and a draw. That last encounter against Angola, which ended 0-0, further highlighted the depth of Egypt’s collective strength, as head coach Hossam Hassan made 11 changes to the starting line-up.

“I have a group of 28 players and I am very satisfied with all of them,” Hassan stated.

For Egypt, the objective at AFCON 2025 remains clear: lifting the trophy, with every match carrying equal importance.

“It will be an important match against a good Benin team. The technical staff has put everything in place for us to deliver a strong performance, and we are ready to make the Egyptian people happy,” said Trezeguet, who has played 147 minutes across two matches in the tournament.

Holders of the record for most AFCON titles with seven continental crowns, Egypt have been chasing another triumph since 2010. In recent years, the Pharaohs have fallen short in two finals, in 2017 and 2021, setbacks that have only strengthened their motivation and determination.

“Our objective is to win the competition,” he concluded.