Former Zamalek SC coach Ahmed Hossam Mido has sparked controversy in Egyptian football after publicly supporting the decision to leave striker Mostafa Mohamed out of the national team squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The omission of the FC Nantes forward from Egypt’s latest squad announcement by coach Hossam Hassan generated widespread debate among supporters and football analysts, many of whom questioned the decision to exclude one of the country’s most recognisable attacking players.
Instead of selecting Mostafa Mohamed, Hassan opted to include two younger forwards making their first appearances with the senior national team: Hamza Abdel Karim, who plays for the youth side of FC Barcelona, and Enppi striker Aktai Abdullah.
The decision quickly became one of the most discussed issues in Egyptian football circles, with critics arguing that Mostafa Mohamed’s experience and international record should have secured his place in the squad.
Mido, however, rejected much of the criticism directed at the national team coach and argued that only a small number of players should be considered indispensable for Egypt.
Writing on his account on the social media platform X, the former Egypt international stated that there were only three players whose exclusion would have represented an unfair decision.
According to Mido, those players are Mohamed Salah, Omar Marmoush and Abdallah El Said.
Salah, who recently left Liverpool FC following the end of the season, and Marmoush, who plays for Manchester City FC, were both included in the national team squad.
However, Abdallah El Said, despite his strong performances for Zamalek, was not selected. The experienced midfielder is now 40 years old but has continued to attract praise for his displays at club level.
Mido went further in his comments by insisting that the exclusion of most other players should not be treated as a major controversy.
He argued that several omitted players had endured disappointing seasons and criticised what he described as excessive defence of ordinary players whose absence would not significantly weaken the national side.
The former striker also addressed reactions surrounding the non-selection of Zamalek player Mohamed Ismail.
Responding to one supporter online, Mido wrote: “Mohamed Ismail performed well in his first season with the White team, but we will not tear our clothes because he did not join the national team.”
Mostafa Mohamed’s absence remains one of the most surprising aspects of Egypt’s latest squad announcement given his international experience.
The 26-year-old striker has represented Egypt 61 times since receiving his first call-up in 2019 under former coach Javier Aguirre.
Nicknamed “Anaconda”, the forward has scored 14 international goals for the Pharaohs. His most recent goal came against Nigeria in a friendly match last December.
Since Hossam Hassan took charge of the national team, Mostafa Mohamed has scored twice, with both goals coming in friendly matches against New Zealand and Nigeria.
The debate over his omission highlights the growing pressure surrounding Egypt’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup, as the coaching staff attempts to balance experienced internationals with emerging younger talent.
While some supporters continue to question the decision, Mido’s intervention has intensified discussion over whether Egypt should prioritise established names or begin reshaping the squad ahead of the global tournament.
