Hossam Hassan Faces Questions as Mohamed Salah’s Trabzonspor Call-Up Reopens Debate Over Egypt Absence
Mohamed Salah has been named in Trabzonspor’s squad for their UEFA Conference League clash, reigniting questions over his recent absence from Egypt. What links the two situations?
Mohamed Salah is once again at the center of a situation that could raise questions in Egyptian football. The forward has been included in Trabzonspor’s squad to face Finland’s KuPS on October 15 in the league phase of the UEFA Conference League.
The Egyptian forward is part of the traveling squad for the European fixture. However, one detail surrounding the match connects his current situation to a recent decision involving his national team.
Artificial Turf Reopens Questions Over His Absence From Egypt
The match against KuPS will be played on artificial turf, the same surface that prompted Salah to miss Egypt’s game against South Sudan in the qualifying campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
In late September, the Egyptian Football Association explained that the forward would not travel to reduce the risk of injury. The decision was made in coordination with the coaching staff led by Hossam Hassan, who confirmed that he had discussed the playing surface with the player.
Salah’s inclusion in Trabzonspor’s squad raises an inevitable question: Why was he left out of an international fixture because of artificial turf, yet included in a squad for a match on a similar surface? For now, the specific factors behind both decisions have not been confirmed.
Salah Is in the Squad, but Playing Time Is Not Guaranteed
The Egyptian forward’s inclusion in the squad does not guarantee that he will start or feature against KuPS. Trabzonspor’s coaching staff must still decide whether to name him in the starting lineup, bring him on in the second half, or keep him on the bench.
There is also no information confirming whether Salah’s physical condition is identical to what it was during Egypt’s training camp.
Hossam Hassan Back at the Center of the Debate
Hossam Hassan is once again facing questions over his role in the decision that kept Salah out of Egypt’s match against South Sudan. The latest call-up does not prove that the national team coach was wrong, but it does raise fresh questions about the criteria used to manage the availability of Egypt’s captain.
Salah’s involvement in Finland could intensify the debate, although the answers will depend on what happens during the match and whether further explanations emerge afterward. For now, his call-up has not put the controversy to rest; instead, it has reopened questions about his absence from Egypt.
Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly
Trabzonspor Kulübü
