The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has moved to dismiss speculation surrounding the future of national team manager Hossam Hassan, confirming that the technical staff retains full backing from the governing body despite administrative friction during a recent international window. EFA Vice President Khaled El-Darandaly addressed public rumors on the Egyptian sports channel “ON Sport,” clarifying that the board has no intention of removing the coaching staff.
Khaled El-Darandaly Submits Official Juba Airport Report to the EFA
The administrative turbulence stems from the national team’s recent travel itinerary following a 5-0 victory over South Sudan in the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. El-Darandaly, who served as the head of the delegation for the South Sudan fixture, submitted a comprehensive administrative report to the EFA board documenting the return journey from Juba. The report details an incident at the Juba airport where Hossam Hassan and Ibrahim Hassan walked directly toward the aircraft without shaking hands with El-Darandaly, though several players subsequently broke ranks to greet him.
El-Darandaly emphasized in his documentation that the encounter remained peaceful and did not escalate into verbal arguments or misconduct. He maintained that preparing administrative logs represents a standard institutional duty for any delegation head, leaving final decisions entirely to an EFA board led by Hany Abou Reda. Speaking on television, El-Darandaly noted that Ibrahim Hassan ignored him during the departure, but stressed that the administration did not skimp on supporting the squad, attended all training sessions, and experienced no direct disputes with the coaching staff.
Hany Abou Reda Prepares Crucial October 12 Board Discussions
Public scrutiny intensified following an international window that included a scoreless draw against Angola in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, the 5-0 win over South Sudan, and a 1-0 friendly defeat to South Africa at Cairo International Stadium. An internal EFA source stated that the board has scheduled a formal meeting for October 12 to evaluate multiple pending files, including El-Darandaly’s documentation. The source confirmed that no intention exists within the governing body to oust Hossam Hassan from his post.
Former Egypt international goalkeeper Ahmed Shobour used his official account on the platform X to counter broader panic regarding disciplinary actions. Shobour stated that reports regarding an official investigation into Ibrahim Hassan carry no truth. According to Shobour, Abou Reda is deliberately withholding hasty actions until both El-Darandaly’s report and the coaching staff’s evaluation are formally reviewed. The EFA president intends to use the cooling-off period to foster an atmosphere of discipline, rational dialogue, and mutual respect among players—including Mohamed Salah, Hamza Abdel Karim, and Mohamed Abdel Monem—the technical staff, and administrative officials ahead of upcoming fixtures.
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