The statements of Hossam Hassan, the coach of the Egyptian national team, regarding Al-Ahly goalkeeper and captain of the Pharaohs, Mohamed El-Shenawy, sparked a wide wave of controversy in Egyptian sports circles, following the exclusion of the latter from the current camp of the national team.
Hossam Hassan explained that the decision to exclude El-Shenawy was due to purely technical reasons, denying the existence of any personal differences between them. However, his statements in which he described a previous period of going through a stage in which he “ended” and during which he was not participating with his club, sparked widespread criticism.
Against the backdrop of this controversy, Hani Abu Raida, President of the Egyptian Football Association, intervened, confirming his full support for El-Shenawy and his appreciation for his busy career with the national team and Al-Ahly club. The former Egyptian national team goalkeeper, Essam El-Hadary, also took the initiative to send a message of support to the international goalkeeper.
On the other hand, the technical director adhered to the position of the technical staff, stressing that choosing the list of players goes to the core of their powers and technical responsibility, and that excluding any element does not in any way reflect the existence of personal crises with him.
