President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi praises the Egyptian national team: What has been achieved for the 2026 World Cup is a championship performance and a high technical level
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi received members of the national football team, along with the technical and administrative staff, in Alamein City today. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Youth and Sports Gawhar Nabil, and President of the Egyptian Football Association Eng. Hany Abu Rida.
The official spokesperson for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shenawy, stated that the President awarded the “Pharaohs” players and members of the technical and administrative staff the Merit Cup and honorary medals in recognition of their championship performance and high technical level during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as well as the determination, resolve, and discipline they displayed. A commemorative photograph was taken featuring the President with the national team players and staff.
The spokesperson clarified that the President addressed the national team players and the technical and administrative staff, welcoming them at the outset and expressing his pride and appreciation for the honorable performance delivered by the team. He emphasized that this praise reflects a general impression shared by all who followed the national team’s matches, including Egyptians, citizens of Arab countries, Egyptian and Arab expatriates abroad, and people around the world.
Al-Sisi praised the high values demonstrated by the team, which reflect the authenticity of the Egyptian people, stressing that what was achieved is the result of commendable effort and great dedication on behalf of Egypt. He noted that sport is not just about winning and losing; rather, the most important aspect is the respect the national team earned from people who appreciated the team’s performance more than the outcome itself.
Al-Sisi further emphasized that the national team represented the youth of Egypt in an excellent and honorable manner, creating a sense of joy among citizens throughout their World Cup journey due to the seriousness of their performance and because they appeared in matches as a major team that exerted itself with sincerity.
The President commended the team’s performance, which reflected Egyptians’ ability to achieve success, stressing that the Egyptian people love sports, particularly football, and possess many talents who can reach the same level of competence as the team’s current stars. In this context, the President affirmed the necessity of having “independent scouts” for young and emerging talents, confirming the state’s readiness to support these capabilities and provide them with the opportunities they deserve, as well as to support the national technical staff.
The President concluded his speech by emphasizing the need to continue hard work, exert effort, maintain morale, and build new generations of players to build upon the achieved success.
The meeting concluded with the President having lunch with the national team players and members of the technical and administrative staff. He made a point of listening to several players who expressed their gratitude for the meeting with the President and his appreciation for them, affirming that the national team, and the players in particular, would do their utmost to build upon the achieved accomplishment.
For his part, the board of directors of the Egyptian Football Association, led by Eng. Hany Abu Rida, along with members of the technical, administrative, and medical staff, and the senior national team players, extended their sincere thanks and highest appreciation to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for the warm reception and honors bestowed upon the national team delegation, in recognition of the honorable performance delivered by the team during the 2026 World Cup.
The Egyptian Football Association affirmed that this honor represents a badge of pride and distinction for all members of the system, embodying the strong support provided by the political leadership to Egyptian sports, and giving everyone a strong impetus to continue working and striving to achieve more accomplishments and raise Egypt’s name high at various continental and international forums.
The Association also conveyed its sincere thanks to President al-Sisi for his supportive words and the great trust he placed in the technical staff and players, which will serve as an incentive to double efforts in the coming phase and continue building a strong national team capable of fulfilling the aspirations of the Egyptian public.
The Egyptian Football Association pledged to the President and the Egyptian people to continue working with a spirit of responsibility and dedication, building upon what has been achieved, in order to attain further successes befitting Egypt’s status and its footballing history.
