The Africa Cup of Nations trophy retained has reportedly been “ stolen ” from the Egyptian Football Association headquarters in Cairo .
The Egyptian Football Federation confirmed to Goal that the trophy won by the Pharaohs three times in a row has been lost .

Ex- Egyptian Football Association vice -president Ahmed Shobeir earlier revealed that the trophy was discovered missing during preparations to build a museum to house all of the silverware won by the North African nation.

“ Officials of the committee which meets every five years and currently manages the Football Association were surprised that the trophy was not available , in light of their desire to create a museum at the federation headquarters , which would feature the trophy and the national team’ s kits , ” Shobeir said on the ‘ On Time Sports ’ TV show.

“ However , [ they ] were surprised to find that the Afcon trophy was lost , and decided to open an investigation . ”

It was initially claimed that former captain Ahmed Hassan – who skippered the team to success at the biennial tournament in 2006 , 2008 , and 2010 – was in possession of the trophy, although he subsequently denied the claim .

“ The committee searched for the trophy, but then an employee told them that Ahmed Hassan , the former captain of the Egyptian national team, who won the cup three times in a row , has kept it, ” Shobeir added .

Later , ex – Egypt midfielder Abdelghani clarified in a press conference that the trophy had been lost in a fire seven years ago .

“ After the burning of the Football Association headquarters , some cups were lost , and the matter was investigated , ” the former FA member began , “ including the Africa Cup of Nations that we retained .

“ Some said that the cup had been with Shawky Gharib , the former general coach of the Egypt national team, and some say it had been with Hassan , the former captain of the Pharaohs. ”

“ I wish I had kept the cup in my house instead of it being lost , ” he posted on his @ AhmedHassan Twitter handle , “ and I am surprised that I ’ m being questioned about the cup after nine years , despite the presence of two FA boards , and the five- year committee for a year and two months… but they’ re only now looking for the cup !

“ One of the members of the five- year committee contacted me and told me that they would put a picture of me with the African Nations Cup on the wall inside the federation, ” Hassan continued, “and he asked me about the cup .

“ I told him that I had delivered it back in 2011 , and he said to me: ‘ I wish you had not handed it over , as the cup is not at the association now. ‘”

Punch