Egypt’s national team has denied reports of tension involving Mohamed Salah and members of the coaching staff, after allegations emerged about events during the squad’s camp.
The dispute comes as Egypt prepare to complete their current international period with a friendly against South Africa at Cairo International Stadium on Sunday.
Egypt began their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a goalless draw against Angola before responding with a 5-0 victory over South Sudan.
Speaking on the Egyptian television programme El Kora Ma’a Fayek on MBC Egypt 2, journalist Ahmed Abdel Basit claimed there had been anger among several players towards head coach Hossam Hassan.
He said the frustration followed alleged verbal abuse directed at players during the Angola match, particularly on the substitutes’ bench after Mohamed Salah had been taken off.
Abdel Basit also said Ibrahim Hassan, the team director, had used offensive language towards some players after the match. According to his account, Hossam Hassan then attempted to calm the situation, apologised and restore order within the squad.
He further claimed that Salah had left the camp angry and that the incident had created considerable tension among the players.
Abdel Basit said the details had reached Khaled El-Dirndly, a member of the Egyptian Football Association board who led the team delegation in South Sudan. He suggested El-Dirndly could take action against Ibrahim Hassan if he submitted a report detailing what had happened during his time in charge of the delegation.
He also claimed such action could ultimately lead to Ibrahim Hassan being dismissed.
The journalist said Mohamed Salah, Omar Marmoush and Mohamed Abdelmonem, along with other players, could miss the next camp if the situation was not resolved.
Egypt officials reject allegations
Egypt team media officer Mohamed Mourad rejected the claims, saying Ibrahim Hassan had not insulted any player during or after the Angola match.
Mourad also denied that Hossam Hassan and Salah had argued. He said video footage showing the coach and the Egypt captain on the substitutes’ bench did not show any confrontation between them.
He added that the coaching staff did not hold a meeting with the players after the match. Instead, members of the staff were in a small room at Cairo International Stadium while the players remained in the dressing room.
The squad later returned to the hotel, where Hossam Hassan met the players at dinner and sought to support them and lift their morale, Mourad said.
He also dismissed suggestions that the squad was united in anger or that groups of players had agreed to boycott the next Egypt camp.
Ibrahim Hassan has now announced legal action against the programme over the claims. In comments to Yallakora, he said: “I will file a complaint with the public prosecutor against the El Kora Ma’a Fayek programme, and the lawyer has already begun taking the necessary procedures.”
The allegations and denials have turned reports about Egypt’s camp into a public dispute, with legal steps and official reports now expected to clarify what happened.
