Salah walks, Hassan talks - and Egypt have a problem

Egypt's head coach, Hossam Hassan, found himself in a media storm after making controversial comments about Mohamed El Shenawy and Mohamed Salah. Initially, Hassan defended El Shenawy, the veteran goalkeeper, claiming that his return to form was due to the work they did together in the national team. However, he later insisted that the decision to leave El Shenawy out of the squad was his choice, emphasizing the need for mutual trust among the players.

Meanwhile, Hassan's remarks about the Egyptian Premier League were met with widespread criticism, as he questioned the technical standards of the league and its clubs. The coach's comments on the league's lack of quality players and technical abilities further fueled outrage among fans and pundits. In a separate incident, Egypt's star player Mohamed Salah was substituted during a match against Angola, leading to speculation about his departure from the national team.

Despite the EFA's claims that Salah's removal was a prearranged decision due to potential injury risks from playing on an artificial pitch, many believed that the unrest caused by Hassan's statements was the real reason behind his exit. The situation has left Egypt's football community in a state of crisis, with numerous former players and former national team members criticizing the coach's decisions and actions.