Salah walks, Hassan talks - and Egypt have a problem

Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan attempted to quell recent controversy surrounding his statements and decisions ahead of the Pharaohs' Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Sudan. Just two months after his hero's welcome following Egypt's historic World Cup run, Hassan faced a media storm due to ill-advised comments and a disappointing 0-0 performance against Angola.

One of the most controversial comments came during a pre-match press conference for the Angola game, where Hassan implied that goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy's career was "finished" before he returned to his level through the national team. This sparked outrage among fans, pundits, and even his own players. Additionally, Hassan faced criticism for his views on the Egyptian Premier League, stating that no team in the league had a good technical level, and that his primary concern was the physical conditioning of the players.

The situation escalated when Egypt was held to a goalless draw against Angola, and Salah was inexplicably substituted in the 60th minute. Following Salah's departure, the EFA released a statement claiming the decision was prearranged due to concerns about an artificial pitch in South Sudan, but football insiders suggested otherwise.

The crisis surrounding Hassan's comments and actions has dominated Egypt's news cycle, with many describing it as a "crisis."