Mohamed Salah set to return for Egypt after row with coach

Egypt captain Mohamed Salah is expected to return to the national team for November’s international camp after a dispute with manager Hossam Hassan appeared to move towards a resolution.

The government’s official spokesman for the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mohamed El-Shazly, said there was currently “no crisis” between Salah and the Egypt coaching staff, with the Liverpool forward expected to rejoin the squad.

Salah left the camp after Egypt’s World Cup qualifier against Angola. He was substituted after 60 minutes, a decision which reportedly displeased the captain and led to his departure from the squad.

Egypt subsequently played their next two matches against South Sudan in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, followed by a friendly against South Africa on Monday.

Speaking to Egyptian channel Modern M T I, in comments reported by Al Arabiya, El-Shazly said the situation was heading towards a solution and that the mood within the camp was becoming more stable.

“There is currently no crisis between Salah and the coaching staff,” he said, adding that the November camp would mark the captain’s return.

El-Shazly said Egypt’s national team was moving in a positive direction, with discipline and the creation of a suitable environment regarded as important steps towards restoring the spirit seen during the World Cup.

He added that recent events should be put behind the team and should not be allowed to have a negative effect in the future.

“Mohamed Salah is one of the most important figures in Egyptian sports history,” El-Shazly said. “He is keen for calm to prevail within the Egypt team and he will be present at the next camp.”

Salah’s return would come as Egypt prepare for two further qualifiers against Malawi on 11 and 15 November, in the third and fourth rounds of the competition.

El-Shazly also revealed that Minister of Youth and Sports Jawhar Nabil had been in contact with all Egyptian players based overseas, rather than Salah alone. He said those players were regarded as ambassadors for the country.

The minister had also spoken to Hany Abu Rida, president of the Egyptian Football Association, about restoring calm and discipline to the national team, El-Shazly said.

Their aim, he added, was to recreate the atmosphere that had existed inside Egypt’s dressing room during the World Cup.

The dispute between Salah and Hossam Hassan emerged after the Angola match, but the latest comments from the Ministry of Youth and Sports indicate that the issue is no longer considered an active problem as Egypt continue their campaign to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.