Egypt FA chief to meet Mohamed Salah in Turkey after dispute with Hassan brothers

The president of the Egyptian Football Association, Hany Abu Rida, is expected to travel to Turkey in the coming hours to meet Mohamed Salah and help resolve a dispute between the national team captain and the coaching staff led by Hossam Hassan and Ibrahim Hassan.

The move is intended to prevent tensions from escalating and to improve relations before Egypt’s next international camp, with the Football Association seeking to keep the former Liverpool star in the manager’s plans for the team’s upcoming fixtures.

Salah, who plays for Turkish club Trabzonspor, left Egypt’s camp in September 2026 after the Pharaohs’ match against Angola in the qualifying competition for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. His departure raised questions about his relationship with the coaching staff.

Hossam Hassan had substituted Salah in the 60th minute of the goalless draw with Angola. After the match, the Egypt manager said the decision had been made purely for technical reasons and confirmed that the captain was not injured.

Egyptian journalist Ahmed Abdel Basit reported that Abu Rida’s visit was being arranged to ease tensions and bring the two sides closer together.

“Hany Abu Rida, the president of the Football Association, will visit Mohamed Salah in Turkey within a few hours to resolve the disagreements that arose from the previous camp because of the national team’s coaching staff, and to bring the twins and Salah’s viewpoints closer together in order for him to join the national team’s next camp,” Abdel Basit said.

The meeting is part of efforts to open a new chapter between Salah and the coaching team, with the aim of paving the way for his return to the squad and avoiding further disputes during the decisive stage of qualification.

Egypt will face Malawi twice in the third and fourth rounds of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The team’s next camp is scheduled to begin on 9 November at the National Teams Centre.

The first match against Malawi will be played on 13 November at Cairo International Stadium, before the sides meet again on 17 November at Bingu National Stadium in Malawi.

Egypt are in Group B alongside Angola, South Sudan and Malawi. The Pharaohs lead the group with four points, ahead of Angola on goal difference. Malawi are third with three points, while South Sudan are bottom without a point.

Egypt began their campaign with a goalless draw against Angola in Cairo, then recorded a 5-0 away victory over South Sudan.