Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan has sparked a backlash with his recent comments about veteran goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy. Hassan described El Shenawy as "finished" and claimed he had revived his career with the national team. The remark has been widely criticized by media and pundits, who describe it as "stunning" and "poorly formulated". El Shenawy, a 37-year-old goalkeeper, has been an undisputed starter for almost a decade but has seen his playing time reduced at Ahly with the emergence of Mostafa Shobeir.
Hassan denied any rift with El Shenawy, stating that his decision to leave the goalkeeper out of the squad for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers was a football decision. He emphasized that his choice was based on his technical point of view, regardless of El Shenawy's injury status. Hassan added that El Shenawy is "one of the leaders of the Egypt national team". The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) president Hany Abo Rida also expressed support for El Shenawy, calling him "one of the loyal sons of Egyptian football".
El Shenawy has not made any comments on Hassan's remark. He was left out of Hassan's team for the opening two rounds of Egypt's 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign against Angola and South Sudan. Abdel Aziz El-Belaouti was called up in his place. El Shenawy's omission follows unresolved tension dating back to Egypt's 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, when a dispute over his playing time reportedly required a meeting between the coaching staff and both goalkeepers.
Hassan's statement has been slammed by former Egypt and Tottenham Hotspur star Ahmed Hossam "Mido", who described the coach as "narcissist". Media and pundits have also criticized Hassan for creating unnecessary tension. El Shenawy was part of Egypt's 2026 World Cup squad but has seen his playing time reduced at Ahly.
The controversy comes as Egypt prepares to open their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign against Angola at Cairo Stadium. Hassan has asserted his authority, stating that his team selection is based on "performance over names". The coach has also emphasized that his decision to leave El Shenawy out is not personal.
El Shenawy's injury status has also been a subject of discussion. Ahly announced that he had picked up an injury during training and would not be available for selection. However, Hassan's decision to leave him out of the squad has been questioned by many. The goalkeeper's future with the national team remains uncertain.
Egypt was held to a draw by Angola in their 2027 AFCON qualifier. The match was a closely contested encounter, with both teams creating scoring opportunities. The result has put pressure on Hassan and his team to improve their performance in the upcoming matches. Key players, including Mohamed Salah, are expected to play a crucial role in Egypt's AFCON qualifying campaign.
Key points
- Hassan's comment about El Shenawy has sparked a backlash
- El Shenawy was left out of Egypt's squad for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers
- Hassan has denied any rift with El Shenawy, stating that his decision was based on a technical point of view
