'Only 27 days in charge' - Egypt U20 coach Nabih praises team despite semi-final loss
Egypt U-20 coach Osama Nabih says his team can hold their heads high despite falling 1-0 to Morocco in the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations 2025.
Playing in front of a passionate home crowd at the Air Defense Stadium in Cairo on Thursday night, the Young Pharaohs were narrowly edged out by a Moroccan side widely regarded as one of the most prepared and tactically astute teams in the tournament.
But Nabih, who took over the reins of the squad just 27 days before the tournament began, believes his side played their best football of the competition against the Atlas Cubs.
“I took over the responsibility only 27 days ago, and we played our best match of the tournament against a Morocco team that has been preparing for four years,” Nabih said during the post-match press conference.
Egypt were undone by a single goal in the second half, ending their hopes of contesting the final on home soil. However, the host nation had already secured qualification for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile by reaching the semi-finals.
“I want to thank the players for their great effort. We had an extra game in the group stage and beat Ghana in the quarter-finals after extra time. The boys gave everything,” Nabih added.
Egypt’s journey to the last four was anything but smooth. They finished third in Group A — tied on seven points with South Africa and Sierra Leone — but edged through as one of the best third-placed teams.
The team then overcame Ghana in a dramatic quarter-final clash that ended 2-2 after extra time before winning 5-4 on penalties.
Nabih was quick to challenge the suggestion that Egypt’s qualification from the group stage had been fortunate.
“We didn’t qualify with difficulty. We got seven points, just like the group leaders South Africa and Sierra Leone. People shouldn’t underestimate this achievement,” he said firmly.
The Egyptian coach also highlighted the challenges his side faced in rebuilding quickly after multiple coaching changes in the build-up to the tournament.
“This team has gone through three coaching changes. I came in and worked on our defensive shape, and the players delivered. I’m proud of them,” he said.
Egypt will now regroup for Sunday’s third-place playoff, where they will face Nigeria, also at the Air Defense Stadium. The tournament final between Morocco and South Africa will follow later that evening at Cairo International Stadium.
While the dream of lifting the continental trophy has ended, Nabih insists his team will finish strong.
“We’ll do everything to give the fans something to celebrate. The journey may not have ended the way we hoped, but we have shown resilience, and I trust the boys to finish on a high.”