Egypt's national team manager, Hossam Hassan, has delivered a glowing assessment of Mohamed Salah's mindset ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations, describing the Liverpool star as training with the boundless energy of a teenager.
Salah's 'Teenager' Mentality Ahead of Crucial Tournament
Speaking in the sun-drenched Moroccan city of Agadir, nestled in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, Hassan addressed the media on the eve of Egypt's opening AFCON match against Zimbabwe. He was effusive in his praise for his captain's attitude in the camp.
'Salah's morale in training is incredibly high, as if he has just started with the national team!' Hassan declared. 'I believe he will have a great tournament with his country. Salah will be among the best players of the tournament, and he will remain an icon and one of the best players in the world.'
Moving Past Club Controversy
The comments come just two weeks after Salah faced heavy criticism for explosive remarks about his club, Liverpool, and its new manager, Arne Slot – comments for which he later apologised. Hassan, however, downplayed the incident, framing it as a typical player-manager disagreement.
'There was constant communication with Mohamed during what I don't want to call a crisis, because any player can have a difference of opinion with his manager at his club,' Hassan explained.
He drew a parallel with a previous dip in Salah's form for Liverpool, suggesting international duty could again provide the catalyst for a return to peak performance. 'The same situation happened with Salah when he went through a period without scoring goals for Liverpool. Then he got back on the right path through the national team and, as a result, returned to an even better level than before.'
Egypt's AFCON Ambitions in the 'Salah Era'
Salah, alongside Manchester City's Omar Marmoush, leads an Egyptian side considered the second favourites for the tournament, behind hosts Morocco. The Pharaohs are seeking their first AFCON title in the so-called 'Salah era'.
Despite being one of the continent's most successful nations, with three consecutive wins between 2006 and 2010, Egypt has not lifted the trophy since Salah's emergence as a global superstar. The 33-year-old captain has finished as a runner-up twice and is determined to finally secure the continental crown, potentially in what may be his final AFCON appearance.
The nation has rallied behind its star player ahead of the campaign, offering significant support following the recent club-related controversy. All eyes will now be on Salah to translate his infectious training-ground energy into performances on the pitch in Morocco.
