Turkish club Konyaspor have denied receiving a request from the Egyptian Football Association to release striker Mostafa Mohamed for international duty, amid speculation that the forward could return to the national team following the departure of Hossam Hassan.
The reports emerged after Ali Maher replaced Hassan as Egypt head coach, raising expectations that the Konyaspor striker could be reconsidered for selection after being left out of the squad during his predecessor’s tenure.
However, Konyaspor vice-president Ali Kamgöz has dismissed suggestions that the Egyptian national team has contacted the club over the player’s availability.
Speaking exclusively to WinWin, Kamgöz said: “No, we have not received any call-up from the Egyptian national team.”
He also expressed confidence in the Egyptian forward’s ability to improve his performances, adding: “We trust Mustafa, and we believe he will perform very well with the team.”
The club official’s comments come after controversy surrounding remarks attributed to Yusuf Kucuk, a member of Konyaspor’s board of directors. Reports had identified Kucuk as the club’s sporting director and quoted him as questioning whether Mostafa Mohamed deserved another opportunity with Egypt.
The comments attributed to him suggested that the striker’s performances at Konyaspor did not justify an international recall, with the club official reportedly expressing doubts that Egypt would seek his services.
Konyaspor clarifies position over controversial statements
The reports prompted questions about the Turkish club’s assessment of the Egyptian international, but Konyaspor have moved to distance themselves from the remarks.
Kucuk denied making the statements attributed to him and clarified that he does not occupy the position of sporting director at the club. Kamgöz also confirmed that he had stepped away from sporting matters at Konyaspor approximately two months ago.
The clarification has provided further context to the controversy, with the club’s vice-president making it clear that Konyaspor have not received any official communication from Egypt regarding the striker.
Mostafa Mohamed joined the Turkish side last summer from French club Nantes, signing a contract that runs until 2029.
However, the forward has endured a difficult start to life in Turkey, having failed to score in his first eight appearances in the Turkish Super Lig. Seven of those outings came as a substitute, with the Egyptian managing only 212 minutes of playing time.
Mostafa Mohamed hopes for fresh opportunity under Ali Maher
The striker recently received an opportunity to make his first start for Konyaspor during the 11th round of the Turkish league against Samsunspor last Saturday.
Despite being included in the starting line-up, Mohamed could not prevent his side from suffering a 1-0 defeat. He recorded one shot on target and won all five of his aerial duels, earning a rating of 6.8 from SofaScore.
His limited involvement at club level has coincided with a lengthy absence from the Egyptian national team.
Mohamed has not represented the Pharaohs since being left out of Hassan’s squad for the 2026 World Cup. That decision triggered considerable controversy, particularly after his agent, Adam Watani, issued a statement through WinWin accusing the national team’s technical staff of marginalising his client.
The striker’s exclusion became a major talking point at the time, with questions raised about his relationship with the former Egypt coach and his prospects of returning to the international setup.
However, Hassan’s departure and Maher’s appointment have created the possibility of a fresh start for Mohamed.
Although Konyaspor have confirmed that no official call-up request has arrived from Egypt, the change in the national team’s technical leadership has renewed attention on the striker’s international future.
For now, Mohamed remains focused on establishing himself at his Turkish club, where improved performances could strengthen his chances of returning to the Pharaohs under their new head coach.
