Egyptian football club Ahly has strongly criticized national team coach Hossam Hassan's recent comments on veteran goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shennawy. Hassan described El-Shennawy as "finished" and claimed that national team duties helped him rediscover his form. Ahly released a statement condemning Hassan's remarks, calling them "irresponsible" and reflective of a "limited vision." The club emphasized that it will not tolerate any infringement on its players' rights.
Hassan made the comments in a pre-match press conference for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Angola. He denied any rift with El-Shennawy, saying his decision to leave the goalkeeper out of the squad was a football decision. Hassan, 60, also claimed that El-Shennawy was "finished" at club level before being called up to the national team. These remarks sparked widespread controversy across Egyptian football.
El-Shennawy has not publicly responded to Hassan's comments. The goalkeeper has earned 76 international caps since making his debut in 2018 under former coach Hector Cuper. He has been an undisputed starter in goal for almost a decade but has seen his playing time reduced at Ahly with the emergence of goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir.
Ahly's statement also criticized Hassan's comments on Egyptian clubs, saying they disparage the clubs and domestic competitions. The club expressed deep dismay over Hassan's remarks while praising comments made by the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) president regarding El-Shennawy's stature. Ahly concluded that it is closely monitoring the federation's stance regarding Hassan's transgressions.
The controversy surrounding Hassan's comments comes after Egypt's goalless draw with Angola in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Hassan had justified his decision to rest some key players, including Mohamed Salah, in the match. The coach's comments have sparked a heated debate in Egyptian football circles.
Ahly's statement emphasized that the club consistently prepares its players for national team duty and prides itself on being the primary supplier of talent to Egyptian football. The club also stressed that undermining the technical and moral value of any player is impermissible, especially for a player like El-Shennawy, who is the captain of both Ahly and Egypt.
The Egyptian Football Association has not publicly responded to Hassan's comments, but the EFA president has praised El-Shennawy's stature. The incident has highlighted the tensions between Egyptian clubs and the national team coach, with Ahly being a major supplier of players to the national team.
Key points
- Ahly criticizes coach Hossam Hassan's comments on goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shennawy
- Hassan's comments spark controversy in Egyptian football
- Ahly emphasizes its role in preparing players for national team duty
