Hany Abo Rida, president of the Egyptian Football Association (EFA), travelled to Turkey to meet Mohamed Salah, player and captain of Trabzonspor and Egypt, who had left the Pharaohs’ camp in September 2026.
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced, in an official statement relayed by Buaksib, that its president had travelled to Turkey to meet the Pharaohs’ captain. Salah had left the September 2026 camp after the 0-0 draw against Angola, in the qualifiers for CAN 2027.
According to the federation, this move is part of its commitment to continuous communication with the national team’s stars. It comes after the player’s departure from the camp, although the statement does not address the reasons for that decision.
A visit to the player’s club
The statement specifies that the purpose of the trip was to meet Mohamed Salah, captain of the national team and one of the most prominent figures in Egyptian football. Abo Rida therefore travelled to Trabzonspor, the player’s club, for a direct exchange.
On site, the EFA president attended the Trabzonspor – Gaziantep match, which the Turkish club won 2-0. He then spoke with Salah at a dinner attended by several officials.
The September precedent
In September 2026, Mohamed Salah left the Pharaohs’ camp after being substituted by head coach Hossam Hassan in the 60th minute of the match against Angola. That departure followed a decision taken during the game.
Previously, Ibrahim Hassan, the national team’s director, had praised Salah’s professionalism and the respect the technical staff have for him, according to Buaksib.
Abo Rida’s visit is part of this chronology. The federation says it wants to remain in permanent contact with the national team’s stars and “clear any obstacle”, without detailing what was discussed with the player.
Expectations for the next camp
The statement does not mention any official return of Salah in the Pharaohs’ shirt. Egyptian media, however, report that the player is expected to be in good spirits at the next camp.
Ahmed Shobeir, a media presenter on Egyptian Radio, gave his analysis: “There is nothing stopping us, even if he is upset or a little sad or annoyed, from sitting down and talking with him, opening our hearts, and finding out what the problem is and what is bothering him, because we do not produce a Mohamed Salah every 50 years.” A commentator’s view, which does not constitute official information.
The statement does not name the officials present at the dinner and does not specify a date for Egypt’s next camp.