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Ahmed HassanEgyptian footballer, forward
Date of Birth: 05.03.1993
Country:  Egypt |
Content:
- Ahmed Hassan Kouka: Egyptian Football Legend
- Move to Portugal
- Breakout Season at Rio Ave
- Transfer Controversy and Move to Braga
- Further Success at Braga
- International Career
Ahmed Hassan Kouka: Egyptian Football Legend
Early Life and Career in EgyptAhmed Hassan Kouka, born in 1993, is an Egyptian footballer who plays as a striker for Portuguese club Braga and the Egypt national team. In Egypt, Kouka played for the youth team of Cairo-based club Al-Ahly until the age of 18. Despite training with the first team, he failed to break into the squad due to intense competition among strikers.
Move to Portugal
In October 2011, Kouka moved to Portugal and joined Rio Ave. He spent his first season playing for the youth squad. He made his Primeira Liga debut on December 9, 2012, in a match against Paços de Ferreira.
Breakout Season at Rio Ave
Kouka scored his first Primeira Liga goal on January 20, 2013, against Vitória. From that point forward, he became an integral part of Rio Ave's starting lineup and began scoring goals consistently. He finished his first professional season with eight goals in the league.
Transfer Controversy and Move to Braga
Despite a less successful 2013/14 season in terms of goalscoring, Kouka reached the finals of both the Portuguese Cup and the Portuguese League Cup with Rio Ave. In the 2014/15 season, he excelled, scoring 12 goals in the league, attracting interest from Lisbon clubs Sporting CP and Benfica.
While Rio Ave accepted Sporting CP's offer, Benfica made a more lucrative proposal. Kouka was on the verge of joining Benfica, but a medical examination revealed heart problems that required surgery. After the surgery, he was set for another medical exam, but Benfica withdrew their interest in the meantime.
Further Success at Braga
Kouka returned to Rio Ave for the 2015/16 season. On August 21, he scored against Braga, only to join the club four days later. The transfer cost Braga €700,000, with Rio Ave receiving a percentage of any future sale. He signed a five-year contract with Braga.
Although Kouka struggled for form initially, he began scoring regularly in the winter. He also netted crucial goals for Braga in the Europa League. In the 2015/16 Portuguese Cup final, he assisted on a goal and scored one of the penalties in the shootout, helping Braga win the trophy.
International Career
Kouka was a regular for Egypt's under-20 team, playing in two FIFA U-20 World Cups (2011 and 2013). In the 2013 tournament, he scored two goals, against Iraq and England. In the same year, his under-20 team won the Africa Cup of Nations.
Kouka made his debut for the Egypt national team on August 14, 2013, in a friendly against Uganda, where he scored a goal. He became a regular member of the squad in the fall of 2015, scoring four goals in three matches.
