Salah-Hossam Hassan partnership must be preserved for more success – Egypt FA official Abu Zahra

Egyptian Football Association (EFA) board member Mustafa Abu Zahra has called for unity around national team captain Mohamed Salah and head coach Hossam Hassan, insisting that their relationship must be preserved as the Pharaohs seek to build on their achievements.

Abu Zahra reaffirmed the association’s support for Hossam Hassan and his brother Ibrahim Hassan, the national team director, while stressing the importance of maintaining stability within the team following recent controversy surrounding the technical staff and the federation.

Speaking to ON Sport, Abu Zahra praised the work of the coaching duo, saying they had worked hard for the national team and shared a common objective of making Egyptians happy through their performances.

He highlighted the relationship between EFA president Hani Abu Rida, Hossam Hassan and Mohamed Salah, describing their cooperation as an important foundation for the national team’s progress.

“The triangle of (Hani Abu Rida, Hossam Hassan, Mohamed Salah) must be preserved if we want more victories,” Abu Zahra said.

The EFA board member also described Salah as a valuable asset to the national team, praising his leadership qualities and commitment. He said the association had always recognised the Liverpool forward’s importance since taking responsibility for the administration of Egyptian football.

Abu Zahra maintained that attempts to create instability within the national team would not succeed, insisting that the situation had been addressed following discussions between the parties involved.

He revealed that vice-president Khaled El-Darandaly had accepted reconciliation with Hossam and Ibrahim Hassan, bringing an end to the disagreement that had attracted attention in recent weeks.

According to Abu Zahra, the situation should not be allowed to overshadow the team’s objectives, particularly with Egypt preparing for important assignments on the international stage.

He also defended Hossam Hassan’s approach, explaining that the coach was determined to build a competitive side and would not guarantee any player a place in the squad at the expense of the national team’s interests.

Abu Zahra described both Hossam and Ibrahim Hassan as committed figures who genuinely wanted to see Egypt succeed, adding that the federation was working to bring out the best in the head coach while maintaining a stable environment around the team.

He acknowledged that disagreements and mistakes could occur within football, but insisted that the priority should be resolving differences and protecting the collective objective rather than allowing tensions to escalate.

The official further expressed hope that Salah would continue performing strongly at club level and arrive at national team camps in high spirits, given his influence on Egypt’s ambitions.

With the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations approaching, Abu Zahra urged the media, the federation, the coaching staff and the players to remain united behind the national team.

He said Egypt must preserve the progress made so far and work towards winning the continental title, which would give the Pharaohs an eighth AFCON crown and extend their record as the competition’s most successful nation.

Abu Zahra’s remarks underline the EFA’s desire to maintain harmony between Salah and Hossam Hassan, with their cooperation viewed as an important part of Egypt’s pursuit of further success.