Record-holders Egypt may have missed out on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, but coach Hossam Hassan believes the tournament has provided valuable preparation ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The Pharaohs suffered a 1-0 semi-final defeat to Senegal in Tangier on Wednesday and will face Nigeria on Saturday in the bronze medal match in Morocco. Despite the setback, Hassan emphasized the positives gained from competing against a variety of opponents and experimenting with different tactical systems.

“It has been very good preparation for us. We’ve tried several systems of play throughout the tournament and faced different types of opponents,” Hassan said.

“We came close to the final, but that’s football. Overall, I’m satisfied with what we achieved. We have a good team, even though we were away from home with limited support.”

The match against Nigeria is seen as another opportunity to fine-tune the squad ahead of Egypt’s World Cup campaign. The Pharaohs will play in Group G, facing Belgium on June 15 in Seattle, New Zealand on June 21 in Vancouver, and Iran on June 26 back in Seattle.

Hassan acknowledged that Egypt’s semi-final exit may have been influenced by the limited presence of players at top European clubs, in contrast to finalists Morocco and Senegal. Of Egypt’s 28-man squad, only captain Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Omar Marmoush (Manchester City), and Mostafa Mohamed (Nantes) are Europe-based.

“Players based in Europe gain better tactical understanding and physical strength, and we need that added value to improve,” Hassan explained. “The game against Nigeria gives us another chance to prepare, but we always want to win. Egypt is a team that has won seven Cup of Nations in the past.”

Looking ahead, Hassan said the team will review their performance and identify areas for improvement, focusing on both defensive solidity and attacking efficiency as they gear up for the World Cup.