Egypt Goalkeeper Sabry Targets Historic WAFCON Run for Women's Football

Habiba Sabry, the goalkeeper for Egypt’s national women's team, says her squad is drawing significant inspiration from the success of their male counterparts as they prepare for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). Egypt is returning to the tournament for the first time in a decade, with Sabry stating that their primary goal is to reach the knockout stages for the first time in history.

The team hopes their performance will serve as a catalyst for women’s football in Egypt, encouraging higher participation rates among girls and young women. Sabry noted that the visibility of the sport has increased, but a successful run in WAFCON could be the turning point for professionalizing the women’s game in the region.

However, the continental landscape faces legal challenges. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is scheduled to hear Senegal's appeal on October 8 regarding the removal of their African Cup of Nations title. This legal battle has cast a shadow over recent results and highlighted ongoing administrative tensions within the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Amidst these developments, coaching changes are reshaping other major national teams. Beyond the German and Belgian announcements, Japan has extended the tenure of coach Hajime Moriyasu with the target of winning the Asian Cup. Meanwhile, Italy continues its search for a new head coach after Pep Guardiola reportedly turned down an offer to lead the Azzurri, opting instead to stay focused on his club commitments.