Hossam Hassan's continuity in leading the Egyptian national football team is facing increasing questions, amid press reports about a trend within the Football Association to end the mission of the technical staff, after a series of disputes with a number of national team players, and statements that sparked controversy among club fans, in addition to a family crisis that has resonated with the media and the judiciary.
On Saturday, the Egyptian Football Association issued a statement calling on the fans and the media to support the team and stay away from any “escalation” that might affect its preparations, without clarifying its position regarding reports related to the future of the technical staff.
These developments come days before the matches between Egypt and Malawi in the 2027 African Cup of Nations qualifiers, amid ambiguity regarding whether Hossam Hassan will continue his mission after the two matches, or whether the Federation is considering making a change in the technical staff.
What is the position of the Football Association?
Press reports have increased over the past few days regarding the possible departure of Hossam Hassan, and Egyptian media quoted sources described as knowledgeable that the Football Association, headed by Hani Abu Raida, is considering ending the mission of the current technical staff, after escalating disputes with a number of national team players.
These speculations came after a meeting between Abu Raida and the leader of the “Pharaohs” Mohamed Salah in Türkiye, in light of reports of tension in the relationship between the former Liverpool star and the technical director.
In an attempt to contain the controversy, the Egyptian Football Association issued a statement on Saturday in which it affirmed that the national team’s interest and stability are its top priorities, calling on the media and fans to support the team and stay away from any escalation or emotion that might affect its focus and readiness for future entitlements.
But the statement did not directly address Hossam Hassan’s future or the reports related to the dismissal of the technical staff.
On Friday, Hossam Hassan spoke about the news circulating regarding his departure, saying that he did not know who was promoting this news, noting that preparations for the next camp had already begun, and that the team director held a working session with the president of the federation.
Hassan refused to link his family disputes to his work as a technical director for the national team, questioning the connection between his personal life and his professional commitment. He also said that he did not make statements about his family.
Al-Ahram newspaper's sports critic, Hassan Khalafallah, believes that the Football Association's statement did not provide clear answers regarding the future of the technical staff, and says that it is difficult to predict whether Hossam Hassan will continue in his position or leave during the coming period.
Khalfallah adds that the crisis is not limited to family disputes that have become a topic of discussion in the media, but also includes disputes with a number of players and clubs, which he believes has affected the image of the coach and his relationship with the fans.
He says that Hossam Hassan is still holding on to his position, and is trying to continue leading the national team despite the pressures he is exposed to.
For his part, Ibrahim Al-Manisi, sports critic and editor-in-chief of Al-Akhbar newspaper, believes that officials within the Football Association themselves do not have a final vision about what will happen to Hossam Hassan, indicating that the matter is being studied at a broader level than the Federation, according to him.
Al-Manisy says that there is a tendency among a number of federation officials towards the departure of the technical staff, but the timing of the decision remains sensitive, in light of the approaching matches of Egypt against Malawi in the qualifiers for the African Cup of Nations.
He adds that several solutions have been proposed during the recent period, but no final decision has been issued yet regarding Hossam Hassan’s future.
Disagreements with the national team’s stars
The criticism directed at Hossam Hassan was not limited to his personal crises, as the past period witnessed tension in his relationship with a number of national team players, led by captain Mohamed Salah and goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy.
The controversy escalated over his relationship with Salah after he decided to replace him during the match between Egypt and Angola in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers, a relatively long time before the match had passed.
When Hassan was asked about the reason for the change, he said that the decision was made for “technical reasons.” Salah left the national team camp after the match, and did not participate in the next confrontation against South Sudan, which reinforced speculation about a dispute between him and the coach.
In an attempt to bring points of view closer, Football Association President Hani Abu Rida met with Salah in Turkey last week, a meeting that revived controversy over the nature of the relationship between the national team captain and the technical staff.
Al-Manisy believes that the dispute with Salah was one of the most prominent factors that raised questions about Hossam Hassan’s continuation, given the player’s status within the national team and his relationship with his teammates.
He added that Abu Rida's meeting with Salah revealed the existence of broader problems in the relationship between the technical staff and some players, and that the president of the federation returned from Türkiye with negative impressions about the situation within the national team, according to his assessment.
Salah was not the only player about whom Hossam Hassan's statements sparked controversy.
Last September, the coach sparked criticism after he described the level of Mohamed El-Shenawy, the goalkeeper of Al-Ahly and the national team, as “finished,” in reference to the decline in his level in a previous period with his club, which sparked the anger of sectors of Al-Ahly fans.
He also previously made statements that sparked controversy regarding Mostafa Mohamed, the former Zamalek player, which sparked criticism from the club’s fans.
Khalaf Allah believes that Hossam Hassan’s statements in press conferences, and his hints about some clubs and players, contributed to increasing the severity of the criticism directed at him.
He says that the dispute with Mohamed Salah was one of the most prominent of these crises, especially since Salah is the captain of the national team and one of its most prominent players, and that the statements regarding his level were not successful, in light of what the player offers with his team.
Al-Manisi agrees with this assessment, pointing out that the differences were not limited to Salah, but rather included other players, in addition to the tense relationship with the fans of Al-Ahly and Zamalek clubs.
How did the family crisis affect Hossam Hassan’s future?
In addition to sports disputes, Hossam Hassan's name made headlines during the past months due to family disputes that were transmitted to the media and became the subject of mutual legal procedures, according to what was published by local media.
The spread of news of these disputes led to the intervention of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation, which issued a decision last September to prevent Dina Mustafa, known as Dan Adam, from appearing on the media, as part of measures related to controls on respect for private life.
On November 4, the Council announced that Hossam Hassan would also be banned from appearing on all media outlets subject to the Press and Media Regulation Law, while continuing to prevent Dan Adam from appearing.
He also announced the summoning of the legal representatives of a number of websites for violating the controls for preserving private life, warning against repeatedly publishing or circulating news related to the facts subject to the decision.
Khalaf Allah believes that the emergence of the technical director’s family disputes in this way affected his public image, considering that the image and prestige of the technical director represent an important aspect in his relationship with the players and in the nature of the position he holds.
What awaits the Egyptian national team?
The two matches are of special importance as the team seeks to continue its journey in the qualifiers, while questions are increasing about the future of the technical staff before the upcoming matches.
Egypt leads Group Two with seven points, ahead of Angola, while Malawi comes in third place.
While the Football Association has not announced a decision regarding Hossam Hassan’s continuation or departure, disputes with players, public criticism, and a personal crisis that has spread to the media remain present factors in the ongoing debate regarding the future of the technical director.
