Mo Salah set for awkward decision as Egypt hire the national legend who slammed Liverpool star’s Afcon exit

MOHAMED SALAH is set for and awkward encounter following Eygpt’s decision to hire Hossam Hassan.

The Pharaohs hired the national legend to replace Rui Vitoria following their Afcon exit.

AP

Hossam Hassan has been named Egypt’s name manager[/caption]

He criticised Mohamed Salah for returning to LiverpoolAP

AFP

Rui Vitoria was sacked for losing just once as Eygpt manager[/caption]

Egypt were knocked out of Afcon in the last-16 after a shock defeat to DR Congo.

Salah, 31, has wished the Portuguese manager well on social media following his departure.

He wrote: “Thanks for everything, coach. I wish you the best in the future.”

Victoria’s exit came as a bit of a surprise as he had only lost one match during his time in charge.

While it appears that Salah had a good relationship with the former Benfica and Al-Nassr boss, it is likely there could be some friction with his replacement.

Hassan, 57, was hired by the Pharaohs as the technical director but will be fulfilling the role of a manager.

The former striker is a legend for Egypt as he scored 68 goals and is the all-time leading goalscorer, 12 more than Salah.

During Afcon he was working as a pundit and was left unimpressed with Salah’s decision to return to Liverpool.

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The forward had picked up a hamstring injury against Ghana and he returned to Merseyside for rehab.

Hassan said: “If Salah feels he wants to travel, he should travel and not return to the national team again because the injury is not severe; he needs physiotherapy which is available with the national team.

“A hamstring injury does not require extensive facilities in Liverpool.

“Big clubs always send doctors and physical therapists with top players to these tournaments, and in Liverpool, they know if Salah needs something, they will send doctors to him.

“Salah, with his great value, should continue with the national team both morally and psychologically.

“It affects other teams that he can participate at any time, but his departure will affect Egypt negatively and the opponents positively.”

This is not the first managerial issue Salah has had to deal with recently as Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp announced he would be stepping down at the end of the season.

Hassan, a three-time Afcon winner as a player, continued to reveal how he would deal with the situation.

He added: “If I was the Egypt manager and he told me his desire to travel to Liverpool, I would tell him to continue there, and we have capable men in the national team.

“Salah is one of the best individuals who have achieved accomplishments for Egypt globally, but the national team is a red line for anyone.

“Even if you are injured and cannot play, you have a significant role from both a technical and moral perspective.”

Salah will have a decision over his international future following the arrival of Hassan, especially if the environment is not welcoming.

This year’s tournament has seen some other shock eliminations with nations like Senegal, Cameroon and Morocco all suffering early exits.

DR Congo have been one of the surprise teams having reached the semi-final against host nation Ivory Coast.

Star player and former West Ham defender Arthur Masuaku scored a brilliant free-kick in the quarter-final.

Cape Verde also punched above their weight before they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by South Africa after a dramatic penalty shootout.