Hossam Hassan addresses Mohamed Salah's absence in football
The head coach of the Egypt national football team, Hossam Hassan, clarified that Mohamed Salah missed the recent match against South Sudan due to personal circumstances. Speaking at a press conference held in Juba, Hassan emphasized that the Egyptian squad is not built around just one player, highlighting the depth and talent available in a nation of 120 million people.
Hassan explained that while Salah is undeniably a crucial player on the global stage, it is unreasonable for a major footballing country like Egypt to depend entirely on a single individual. The coach noted that the team faced difficult conditions during their previous outing against Angola, affected by limited preparation time and injuries.
Overcoming tough conditions in South Sudan
Analyzing the match itself, the Egyptian manager expressed great satisfaction with the result and the performance of both starters and substitutes. He pointed out that the encounter against South Sudan was far from easy, especially given the high temperatures and the unfamiliar synthetic turf pitch. However, careful tactical preparation and player focus allowed the team to secure the victory.
Hassan stressed that his remarks were well-intentioned and aimed at supporting the collective effort of the group rather than making excuses. With this win, the Pharaohs claimed the top spot in Group Two of the qualifiers with four points, following an earlier scoreless draw against Angola in Cairo.
Upcoming fixture and future schedule
Looking ahead to the upcoming fixtures, the Egyptian football squad will shift its focus to the next challenge. Following the first two rounds of the qualifiers, the national team is scheduled to play a friendly match against South Africa next Sunday at the Cairo International Stadium as preparations continue.
Photo : Al AHLY TV — CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
