Hossam Hassan pulled Mohamed Salah off on the hour of Egypt’s 0-0 draw with Angola in their opening AFCON 2027 qualifier last Friday. Within a day, the captain had left the national team camp. Inside 48 hours, Al Ahly had gone public with a statement branding the head coach’s remarks about their goalkeeper “irresponsible”.

Al Ahly go on the offensive

At his pre-match press conference, Hassan reached back into goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy’s career for an illustration of his work with the squad.

“El Shenawy was finished with his club at one point and he played with us in the national team,” Hassan said.

Al Ahly, El Shenawy’s club and the most powerful institution in Egyptian football, called the remarks “irresponsible” and said they would not accept an attack on the “technical or moral value” of their players. Former Egypt striker Mido joined in with an attack of his own, accusing Hassan of narcissism.

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Egyptian media personality Amr Adib, quoted by The National, said Hassan had gone from “national hero to national problem” in 48 hours.

Hassan tries to defuse

On arrival in Juba on Monday, Hassan said his El Shenawy comments had been misinterpreted and insisted the goalkeeper was among the players “loyal to the national team”.

On his captain, he leaned on the artificial pitch at Juba National Stadium.

“We decided to rest Salah because of the artificial pitch. He had discussed the matter with me before the Angola match, and we agreed on it,” Hassan told reporters.

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“He is an important and influential player, one of the team’s key pillars, a great player and a vital member of the team, as well as one of the best players in the world.”

Egyptian media reject the pitch explanation

Team manager Ibrahim Hassan, the coach’s brother, gave the same account: “Salah asked for permission early because of the artificial pitch.”

The forward had also missed a qualifier against Mauritania on artificial turf in October 2024 after Liverpool’s medical staff raised concerns about his back and knee.

Not everyone in Egypt accepted the explanation. Journalist Ahmed Abdel Baset, cited by Goal.com, reported that Salah left camp quietly amid tension in the dressing room and the fallout from Hassan’s press conference remarks.

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The federation is standing firm

Publicly, the Egyptian Football Association has kept its coach at arm’s length from the row. Hassan’s contract was extended to run until the 2030 World Cup after Egypt reached the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup, and the federation has since framed the extension as protection for its long-term “technical project”.

Egypt face South Sudan in Juba on Tuesday. Salah will not be on the pitch.

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