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Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has not been affected by the uncertainty surrounding his situation at the club as he prepares to lead Egypt into the Africa Cup of Nations, according to national team coach Hossam Hassan.
Speaking on Sunday ahead of Egypt’s opening Group B match against Zimbabwe in Agadir on Monday, Hassan said Salah’s attitude in training had been exemplary.
He described the forward’s morale as extremely high, likening it to that of a player just beginning his international career, and expressed confidence that the 33-year-old would enjoy an outstanding tournament.
Hassan praised Salah’s motivation and status within the game, calling him an icon and one of the world’s best players.
He noted that he fully supported the Liverpool star in all his decisions and believed his mindset remained firmly focused on international duty.
Salah arrived at the tournament following a turbulent period at Liverpool, having been left out of the starting line-up in the club’s final five matches before he departed for Morocco.
Tensions appeared to escalate after a recent Premier League draw at Leeds United, when Salah suggested he had been “thrown under the bus” by head coach Arne Slot, fuelling speculation about a possible move away from Anfield during the January transfer window.
However, Hassan played down the situation, insisting it did not amount to a crisis.
He said disagreements between players and coaches were not unusual and revealed that the Egypt coaching staff had remained in close contact with Salah, including speaking to him by phone before meeting him in person when he joined the national team camp.
Salah is targeting a record-extending eighth Africa Cup of Nations title for Egypt, a trophy that has so far eluded him.
He was part of the Pharaohs’ side beaten in the finals by Cameroon in 2017 and Senegal in 2022, but his goals this year have already helped secure Egypt’s qualification for the World Cup.
Hassan said Salah often thrives with the national team when his club form dips, returning stronger and more influential.
He stressed that winning the AFCON would benefit both the player and the team, adding that Salah needs the title as much as Egypt does.
Egypt will also face South Africa and Angola in Group B, with all three of their group-stage matches scheduled to take place in Agadir.
