"Khaberni" - Mohamed Salah made controversial statements in response to a question regarding previous statements by coach Hossam Hassan.
The captain of the Egypt national team described the current "Pharaohs" camp at the 2025 African Nations Cup as the best in his footballing career, recalling Hossam Hassan's famous statement about "professionals and a quarter," before laughing that this quarter has become "three quarters," referring to the team spirit and special state the team is experiencing after the thrilling victory over Ivory Coast 3-2 and advancing to the semi-final to face Senegal.
Mohamed Salah emphasized that the joy of the fans was his biggest motivation, highlighting his happiness with the win and qualification, and his pride in being part of this generation of players, considering what has been achieved as the result of a collective effort on and off the pitch.
He explained that the best player of the match award was not solely his own, but a crowning of the team's entire effort against a great team that includes prominent names in the African arena.
Salah stressed that all the players recognize the value of the Egypt national team's shirt, and that the squad includes major elements, whether the professionals in Europe or the players in the Egyptian league, confirming that the constant goal is to win and fight for victory no matter the name of the opponent.
He added that the competing teams, especially Senegal, are among the top contenders for the title, especially since it includes 27 professional players and are the titleholders from four years ago.
Regarding the atmosphere inside the camp, Salah said that this gathering is the best in his footballing life, stating that he has achieved all possible championships at the club level, but he still hopes to win the African Nations Cup, asserting that no one wants to win the cup more than him. He mentioned that he has been bearing the pressure for many months, asking to leave this burden on him in the upcoming stages.
The team captain also expressed his happiness to work with Hossam Hassan, confirming that everyone inside the team is one family, from the technical staff to the players, which is reflected in the performance on the field.
He concluded his statements by thanking Morocco for the good organization, praising the general atmosphere of the tournament which contributed to the Egyptian team's spirited performance.
