The first nation to host the IFAF African continental championships was when Cairo welcomes men’s and women’s flag football teams from across Africa from June 21-22. And now, defensive end out of Boise State Ahmed Hassanein is the first Egyptian to be selected in the NFL Draft, who took 196th overall as a sixth-round pick of the Detroit Lions.
“I’m just ready to grow and ready to learn and ready to help the team with whatever they need because they believe in me and whoever believes in me that means the world to me,” said Hassanein, who was the first Egyptian to play FSB football.
“I never stop. I go 100 miles per hour on every play. You can’t teach that. I’m relentless in the run game and I can get after the quarterback. I’m consistent at doing my job. I don’t do my own thing. I do my job.”
Hassanein was born in the United States but moved to Egypt as a young child and grew up in his family’s homeland. His first passion was CrossFit, and he was ranked number one in Egypt and 14th across the African continent in his high school age group. He returned to the United States where his brother taught him to speak English and ignited his interest in American football.
During the last two seasons at Boise State, Hassanein combined for 101 tackles, 33 tackles for loss and 22.0 sacks. He is the only FBS defensive lineman to surpass 15 tackles for loss in each of the last two seasons. Hassanein earned First-Team All-Mountain West honors in 2023 and 2024, a College Football Network All-American Honorable Mention in 2024, and was a Jason Witten College Man of the Year finalist that same year.
“I just want to be out there, compete, win, win Super Bowls, that’s who I am,” he added.
If Hassanein makes the Lions roster, he will make even more history as the first Egyptian to play in the NFL. As Super Bowl contenders the past two seasons, perhaps the Lions will provide the pathway to the ultimate NFL first on his unlikely journey.
