Egypt's national team coach, [Hossam Hassan], has expressed unwavering confidence in Mohamed Salah's ability to excel at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, despite the forward's recent struggles at Liverpool. The tournament is set to take place from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
Salah's form at Liverpool has been a concern, with the 33-year-old even being benched for three consecutive matches, which led to him publicly expressing his frustration with manager Arne Slot. The Egyptian captain said he felt "thrown under the bus" after being left on the bench. The remarks resulted in him being dropped for Liverpool’s Champions League match against Inter Milan.
Despite the "crisis" at club level, Hassan remains optimistic about Salah's contribution to the national team. He emphasized the open communication he maintains with Salah, stating, "Communication between me and Salah has always been open". Hassan also highlighted Salah's ambition upon joining the Egypt camp, noting, "When he joined the Egypt national team camp, I felt that he has very big ambition".
The coach drew on past experiences, alluding to similar situations Salah has overcome in his career. He asserted his belief in Salah's capabilities, saying, "I believe Salah will be among the best players at AFCON, and he will remain an icon and one of the best players in the world". Hassan also conveyed his technical and moral support for Salah, acknowledging the player's desire to win the Africa Cup of Nations. "I support him technically and morally, because we cannot forget that Salah needs to win the Africa Cup of Nations," Hassan stated.
Ibrahim Hassan, Egypt's national team director, has also publicly backed Salah, asserting that he will "bounce back" from his Liverpool issues and guide Egypt to victory in the continental tournament. Hassan said that Salah is a great player and will return stronger, continuing to make history with Liverpool.
Adding to the support, Hassan stated, "Salah will make history with the national team at AFCON alongside the technical staff & his teammates by winning the title".
Salah's recent omission from Egypt's squad for a friendly match was simply due to his late arrival to the camp, along with fellow Premier League player Omar Marmoush.
Arne Slot, Liverpool's coach, has also commented on the situation, expressing that the club has "moved on" from the controversy and hoping that Salah's participation in AFCON will ease the situation. Slot noted that after talks with Salah, he was included as a substitute in the Premier League victory against Brighton & Hove Albion. He added that it is now fair for all parties to focus on Salah's performance at AFCON without distractions.
Egypt begins their AFCON campaign on December 22 against Zimbabwe, followed by matches against South Africa on December 26 and Angola on December 29.
