Al Ahly condemn Hossam Hassan comments about Egypt captain Mohamed El Shenawy

Al Ahly have described comments by Egypt manager Hossam Hassan about goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy as “irresponsible” and said he had no right to make remarks that undermine the player.

Hassan spoke about El Shenawy at a news conference before Egypt’s match against Angola, saying: “El Shenawy had been finished with his club at one point, but he played for us with the national team.”

Al Ahly responded by rejecting what they called an unacceptable attack on their goalkeeper and captain.

“The national team manager’s statements are irresponsible and reflect a limited view that we cannot accept as it affects the rights of our players,” the club said. “The تجاوز against Mohamed El Shenawy is unacceptable.”

The club said it had deliberately waited until after Egypt’s match with Angola before responding, despite its anger at Hassan’s comments.

“Putting the interests of the national team first, as Al Ahly habitually does in every situation, has on many occasions meant that we have played major tournaments, foremost among them the FIFA Club World Cup, without our international players,” the statement said.

“Out of concern for the public interest, which the national team manager disregarded, the club chose to remain silent until the match was over.”

Al Ahly added that no player representing the club should have his footballing or personal standing questioned, particularly El Shenawy, who captains both the club and Egypt.

The club also criticised Hassan’s reference to selecting Al Ahly midfielder Imam Ashour before the Africa Cup of Nations in order to prepare him, saying that comment showed a lack of understanding of managerial responsibility and was contrary to practice elsewhere in the world.

“Al Ahly always prepares its players for the national teams and is proud to be their biggest supporter,” the statement said. “The manager has the right to select or leave out any player, but he does not have the right to make such remarks, which damage the relationship of mutual respect between those involved in football.”

Al Ahly also objected to Hassan’s reported view that Egyptian clubs do not play football, saying it diminished the importance of the clubs and competitions organised by the Egyptian Football Association and the Professional Clubs Association. The club said Hassan should not have included Al Ahly in what it described as his limited assessment.

The club expressed its “deep displeasure” at the comments but praised remarks by the president of the Egyptian Football Association about El Shenawy’s value. It said it was waiting to see how the association would respond to statements it believed should not have come from the national team manager.

A source close to Hassan told journalists that the manager had not intended to belittle El Shenawy and that his words had been misinterpreted.

“Hossam Hassan did not mean to diminish El Shenawy. The statements were distorted, because he confirmed at the news conference that El Shenawy is Egypt’s captain and one of the great stars,” the source said.

The source added that Hassan’s use of the word “finished” referred to El Shenawy not being a regular starter for Al Ahly at the time, but that the manager still selected him because he believed in him.

“After the Africa Cup of Nations, and despite El Shenawy not playing, there became a rotation policy at Al Ahly in the goalkeeper position,” the source said.

The source also said Hassan had not questioned El Shenawy’s injury, but had stated that the goalkeeper was outside his plans for the current camp even if he was not injured.

Egypt drew 0-0 with Angola in their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match.

The 37-year-old El Shenawy has won 76 international caps since making his Egypt debut in 2018 under Hector Cuper, keeping 39 clean sheets.