Egypt national football team is in crisis. They haven’t won the AFCON trophy since 2010, they have lost the finals in this year’s competition, they failed to qualify for the 2022 World cup and they have just sacked their coach, just two months after his promotion. After the Football Federation announced that the next coach will (again) be a foreigner, some domestic journalists reached out to the most successful Egypt manager ever – Hassan Shehata. Former player and coach (retired in 2021) still holds the record for winning three consecutive AFCON’s: 2006, 2008, and 2010. He is one of only two coaches to win the Africa Cup 3 times, along with Ghana’s Charles Gyamfi. So, when he has something to say, the nation listens. And his words were: Salah didn’t do anything for the national team, and Carlos Queiroz was his choice as manager, as they both share the same manager.’My Ballon d’Or would have a massive impact in Egypt and Africa’Shehata resigned from the Egypt national team in 2011, after he failed to qualify for the 2012 AFCON, but his career stalled since. He managed Zamalek, Al-Arabi, Difaa El Jadidi, El Mokawloon and Petrojet, before retiring in 2021. And in an interview with Sada El-Balad TV channel, he lamented on his lack of chances after the Egypt role, even suggesting he was sacked.“I have been out of the picture for a while and I don’t know why. When you think about it, I won three consecutive AFCON titles then got sacked, and after that, I was always treated like my days were over. Foreign coaches are given all they want, they are paid well and they get all they ask for” said Shehata.Wow, that was quick: Galal sacked as Egypt coach after two monthsAfter parting ways with Queiroz, the Egypt Football association appointed Ehab Galal as the new manager, but then sacked him after just three games. And Shehata had only words of support for his colleague, but criticized nation’s idol Mohamed Salah. “Ehab Galal took charge at the wrong time, he didn’t have enough time to prepare his players. I hope he doesn’t lose confidence, no other manager would have succeeded in these circumstances. Queiroz was different from Cuper, but he came through a player’s agent, which is not something the EFA should do. The player is Mohamed Salah, and I wasn’t convinced about choosing Queiroz from the beginning. Salah is a great player, he’s done so much abroad and he’s one of the world’s biggest stars. But he didn’t do anything for the Egyptian national team, he should have done more” said Shehata.(7.75) EASTERN COMPANY (4.20) PYRAMIDS (1.40)The Liverpool forward might even agree with him, since he really didn’t won anything, losing AFCON finals in 2017 and 2021 instead. The forward will have another chance in 2023, with the next Africa Cup of Nations taking place in the Ivory Coast
