Strained relations continue between Hossam Hassan and Mostafa Mohamed

Since Hossam Hassan became Egypt’s manager in February 2024, talk of strained relationships with star players has lingered, especially with Mostafa Mohamed of Nantes and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.

Tensions flared again after Egypt’s friendly against Cape Verde, when Hassan tried to substitute Mohamed late in the match. Mostafa initially refused to leave the pitch, prompting visible frustration, but eventually exited looking disappointed. The game ended 1-1, and Egypt won on penalties, but neither commented publicly on their clash.

The drama escalated after Hassan’s press conference. When asked about Egypt’s foreign-based players, he said, “We only have two and a quarter professionals, Salah, Marmoush, and Mostafa, who still hasn’t had his full chance at Nantes.” Fans and media saw this as downplaying Mohamed’s talent and Egypt’s level.

This wasn’t the first episode. During a previous AFCON qualifier, Mohamed had also been unhappy with a substitution, requiring Salah to mediate. Mostafa’s goal tally under Hassan has been low, fueling criticism. With AFCON approaching, this rift could impact Egypt’s campaign and team morale.