Egypt vs South Africa: The Pharaohs Hit With Huge Blow Ahead of Their Game Against Bafana Bafana
- Egypt confirmed that Mohamed Salah will not feature against South Africa in their October friendly during this international break
- The decision follows Salah's earlier exclusion from a 2027 AFCON qualifier, raising questions about his relationship with the coaching staff
- Former Egypt striker Gamal Abdel Hamid publicly criticised coach Hossam Hassan's handling of the former Liverpool star
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Mohamed Salah will not face Bafana Bafana when Egypt take on Pitso Mosimane's side in an international friendly scheduled for 4 October, Egyptian outlet Youm7 has reported.
The Trabzonspor forward was already left out of Egypt's 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Sudan, with head coach Hossam Hassan citing the artificial turf as a precautionary measure. His absence from the South Africa friendly now extends that spell on the sidelines for the Pharaohs' captain.
Rest and Recovery Behind Salah's Absence
Despite speculation about a falling-out between Salah and the Egypt coaching staff, reports indicate that both parties reached a mutual understanding over his non-participation.
The main reason is to give Salah adequate rest and protect him from fatigue ahead of his return to club duties in Türkiye.
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Former Egypt Star Criticises Hossam Hassan
The exclusion has not gone without scrutiny. Former Egypt and Zamalek striker Gamal Abdel Hamid used a television appearance to take direct aim at Hossam Hassan's management of the situation.
"Mohamed Salah is an icon in the world and deserves special treatment, and it is not permissible to say that he left due to technical reasons," Abdel Hamid said on Egyptian television, per Africa Soccer.
He also challenged remarks attributed to the national team manager that appeared to downplay the squad's reliance on Salah.
"It is not permissible for Hossam Hassan to say about Mohamed Salah that we have 120 million and the Egyptian national team does not depend on anyone," Abdel Hamid added.
The comments reflect a wider debate within Egyptian football circles about how the country's most high-profile player is managed at international level, particularly as Salah continues to perform at the highest level in club football.
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Source: Briefly News
