Casablanca, Morocco – A press conference held by the Egyptian national team descended into a tense standoff, resulting in journalists walking out, DZWatch has learned.
The incident occurred at the pre-match press conference ahead of Egypt’s third-place playoff against Nigeria, held at the Mohammed V Stadium. Head coach Hossam Hassan and player Mahmoud Hassan ‘Trezeguet’ were present when the dispute ignited.
According to reports, a Moroccan journalist posed a question that the Egyptian delegation deemed provocative and outside the bounds of typical pre-match inquiries. The question reportedly alluded to Coach Hassan blaming external factors for the team’s semi-final loss, rather than acknowledging tactical shortcomings. This was in reference to previous statements made by Hassan following their defeat against Senegal.
Hassan responded sharply, denouncing the question as disrespectful and unprofessional, and refused to answer. The situation escalated rapidly, with some Egyptian journalists reportedly protesting the line of questioning and subsequently leaving the press conference in solidarity.
The incident casts a shadow over Egypt’s preparation for their match against Nigeria. Despite the charged atmosphere, the Pharaohs are hoping to end their tournament on a positive note in tomorrow’s game.
DZWatch will continue to follow this developing story.
