Egypt boss Hossam Hassan has insisted he has no issues with Liverpool star Mohamed Salah ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Burkina Faso.
The Pharaohs currently sit top of Group A with six points from two games, two points ahead of second-placed Burkina Faso, who they will host on Thursday, June 6.
A win could see Hossam Hassan’s men go six points clear at the top of the group, but a defeat would give Burkina Faso the driving seat.
Speaking ahead of the game, Hossam Hassan said: “I am very happy with the current camp and the spirit surrounding it, and I thank all the clubs whose players have joined the camp and all the players who have committed to being here.
“There were people who tried to create a problem between Mohamed Salah and myself. It is natural to have a big star like Salah on the national team, and everything that was said was fabricated. Egypt is bigger than all of us.
“I am, of course, happy to have Mohamed Salah, who is very committed to the team, and God willing, this will be evident on the pitch. As Ibrahim Hassan stated at the time of our appointment, Salah is with us as you know him, with determination to help his teammates.
“We followed all the league matches and saw comments like the issue between Omar Kamal and myself, which is inappropriate as there is no problem in the first place. When there is a foreign coach, he is not questioned about the absence of players from the list.”
About facing Burkina Faso, Hossam Hassan emphasized: “There is no weak team competing against us. The World Cup qualifiers are long and include six teams, and God willing, we will be blessed with a victory tomorrow, but it is still too early to talk about reaching the World Cup.
“After the Burkina Faso game, we will focus on Guinea-Bissau. All teams have chances, but with God’s blessing and our fans’ support, we are capable of qualifying.”
When asked about who will start in goal for Egypt tomorrow, Hassan replied: “I have four goalkeepers ready to play against Burkina Faso, and I have confidence in all of them. God willing, the duo that will be present, both the starter and the substitute, are equal and can perform well.
“I promise the Egyptian fans, with God’s blessing, that we will work to make them happy. I know well that the happiness of the Egyptian people is linked to the national team.
“We certainly have a real chance to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, and I have no technical problems, just waiting for God’s blessing. I saw great determination as if each player was playing for the national team for the first time, and we all had one goal: to make the fans happy.”