- Hossam Hassan Moves to Defuse Salah Rift Claims Before South Sudan Qualifier
Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan has moved to ease speculation about his relationship with Mohamed Salah after the captain’s early departure from the national team camp and omission from Tuesday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Sudan intensified debate over divisions within the squad.
Questions about the relationship between the pair emerged after Salah was substituted midway through the second half of Egypt’s goalless draw with Angola in their opening Group B qualifier in Cairo.
Salah left the camp the following day and will not travel to Juba for Egypt’s second qualifying fixture, prompting suggestions in the local media that the decision may have reflected dissatisfaction with his substitution.
Hassan had said the change against Angola was made for “technical reasons”, even though Salah arrived for international duty in strong form following his move from Liverpool to Turkish side Trabzonspor.
The coach, however, struck a conciliatory tone before the match against South Sudan, describing the 34-year-old forward as indispensable to Egypt’s plans.
“I respect all the players, especially Mohamed Salah,” Hassan said. “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.”
Hassan said Salah’s absence from the South Sudan match had been agreed before the Angola fixture because of concerns about the artificial playing surface at Juba Stadium.
“We decided to rest Salah because of the artificial pitch,” he said. “He had discussed the matter with me before the Angola match, and we agreed on it.”
The Egyptian Football Association has offered the same explanation, saying the decision was intended to protect the forward from the increased physical demands and potential injury risks associated with the surface.
“We need Salah in the upcoming matches,” Hassan added. “The well-being of every player is my top priority, and I have great confidence in all the players.”
The explanation addresses why Salah will miss the South Sudan fixture, but may not entirely settle questions about the atmosphere inside the Egyptian camp.
Hassan has attracted scrutiny over his public comments concerning senior players. The former Egypt striker recently said goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy was “at one point finished”, a remark that generated criticism and contributed to questions about his management of established figures.
The Salah controversy is particularly sensitive because of the forward’s status within Egyptian football.
Salah has scored 68 goals for his country and is one goal short of equalling Hassan’s national record of 69. That statistical proximity adds another layer to a relationship already subjected to intense public attention.
The coach’s decision to replace Salah against Angola would ordinarily be treated as a tactical judgment. But the timing of the substitution, Salah’s subsequent departure and Hassan’s history of outspoken remarks have allowed a routine football decision to develop into a broader debate over authority and respect within the national side.
For Hassan, restoring focus will be essential. Egypt’s scoreless draw with Angola left the seven-time African champions searching for their first victory in the qualification campaign.
Malawi lead Group B after defeating South Sudan in their opening fixture, while Egypt and Angola have one point each. The Pharaohs can therefore afford little complacency in Juba, even against opponents regarded as the weaker side in the group.
Egypt must qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations without allowing uncertainty around their captain to overshadow the campaign. The tournament will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Salah’s absence also presents a tactical test. Egypt have often depended on his finishing, movement and ability to attract defenders, even when he is not directly scoring. Without him, Hassan must demonstrate that the squad can create sufficient attacking threat through its supporting players.
The coach’s comments appear designed to draw a line under the controversy. Whether they succeed will depend partly on Egypt’s performance against South Sudan and partly on Salah’s response when he returns to the squad.
A victory in Juba would shift attention back to qualification. Another disappointing result would ensure that questions about Egypt’s football are once again directed towards the relationship between its most important player and its most powerful coach.
