Tension between Al Ahly and Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan has entered a new stage after the club released an official statement responding to his recent comments about Mohamed El Shenawy and Emam Ashour, as well as his remarks about Egyptian clubs.

Al Ahly made its position clear after Egypt's opening match against Angola in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, which ended in a goalless draw at Cairo International Stadium.

The club explained that it had chosen not to respond before the match to avoid distracting the national team. However, after the game, Al Ahly decided to address the issue and made it clear that it rejected what it considered inappropriate comments about its players.

Al Ahly Backs Its Players

The main point of Al Ahly's objection was Hossam Hassan's comments about Mohamed El Shenawy.

The Egypt coach had spoken about an earlier period when the goalkeeper was not playing regularly for his club, despite still being used by the national team.

Al Ahly stressed that the national team coach has every right to select or leave out any player. However, the club believes that a technical decision should not lead to comments that could affect a player's professional or personal standing.

The club believes the issue is even more important because El Shenawy is one of Al Ahly's leading players and captain, while also having a long international career with Egypt.

Al Ahly also objected to Hassan's comments about Emam Ashour after the coach spoke about previously calling the midfielder into the national team to prepare him ahead of a major tournament.

The club believes preparing a player physically and technically is mainly the responsibility of his club, while the national team selects players when they are ready to represent their country.

Al Ahly also pointed to its long history of supporting Egypt's national teams with its players, even when international commitments have affected the club during major competitions.

The disagreement was not limited to El Shenawy and Emam Ashour.

Al Ahly also rejected Hassan's comments about the level of football played by Egyptian clubs, arguing that such remarks could reduce the value of the domestic competitions and the clubs taking part in them.

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The club also noted that those competitions provide many of the players later selected for the national team.

Hassan's Position Explained

On the other side, reports quoted a source close to Hossam Hassan as saying that the Egypt coach did not intend to insult Mohamed El Shenawy or reduce the value of his career.

According to the explanation, Hassan was referring to a previous period when El Shenawy was not playing regularly for Al Ahly, while the national team coach still trusted him and gave him playing time.

The source also said that Hassan had already expressed his respect for El Shenawy and his status as one of Egypt's experienced players.

According to the same explanation, El Shenawy's absence from the current squad was simply part of the coaching staff's technical plans for the camp and was not meant as criticism of the goalkeeper.

The source also denied that Hassan was questioning El Shenawy's injury, explaining that the goalkeeper was not part of the coach's plans for the current camp regardless of his physical condition.

Despite those explanations, Al Ahly maintained its position and stressed the importance of mutual respect between clubs and national teams.

The club believes there should be a clear difference between a coach's right to make technical decisions and the way players are discussed publicly.

Al Ahly also welcomed comments made by Egyptian Football Association president Hany Abo Rida about El Shenawy's value and career, viewing them as recognition of the goalkeeper's contribution.

The club ended its statement by saying it is now waiting to see how the Egyptian Football Association will respond to the situation, opening another chapter in the relationship between Al Ahly and the national team's coaching staff.

The dispute comes shortly after Egypt began its 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a 0-0 draw against Angola at Cairo International Stadium.

Attention will now turn to whether the Egyptian Football Association steps in to contain the disagreement between Al Ahly and the national team staff or whether the issue continues in the coming days, especially with several Al Ahly players regularly involved with Egypt.