Egypt coach Hossam Hassan took to the media on Monday in a deliberate bid to quell mounting speculation surrounding Mohamed Salah's relationship with the national team, following the Liverpool-bound forward's exclusion from Tuesday's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Sudan. The omission of one of world football's elite players has ignited considerable debate within Egyptian media circles, forcing Hassan into damage control mode ahead of the squad's journey to Juba.
The tension traces back to Egypt's opening Group B fixture, where the seven-times African champions stumbled to a goalless stalemate with Angola. Salah featured in that match but was withdrawn midway through the second half before departing the team camp the following day. Hassan's assertion that the substitution was made for "technical reasons" despite Salah's impressive recent performances for Turkish club Trabzonspor did little to quell speculation. The controversy intensified further when Hassan's earlier remarks about senior players—particularly goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy, whom he suggested "at one point was finished"—resurfaced, raising questions about the internal atmosphere within the squad.
Seeking to restore harmony, Hassan adopted a noticeably conciliatory tone ahead of the South Sudan encounter. "I respect all the players, especially Mohamed Salah. 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 told reporters. The coach clarified that Salah's rest against South Sudan was a mutually agreed decision, explaining that both he and the 34-year-old had discussed concerns over the artificial playing surface before the Angola match. "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 stated, before emphasizing: "We need Salah in the upcoming matches. The well-being of every player is my top priority, and I have great confidence in all the players."
As Egypt seek their first qualifying victory in their bid to reach the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, Hassan's public show of unity with his star player suggests an attempt to move past the controversy and refocus the squad's attention on the campaign ahead. The coming matches will reveal whether the diplomatic intervention proves sufficient to restore full harmony within the camp.