Ex-Zamalek Star Shikabala Urges Egypt Coach Hossam Hassan to Resign

OPA WIRE, Nov 3 (OPA) — Former Zamalek player Mahmoud Abdel Razek, widely known as Shikabala, advised Egypt national team manager Hossam Hassan to consider resigning from his post. Speaking on the MBC Masr 2 channel, Shikabala argued that a national team coach must maintain strict authority and command respect among players, which he believes has been compromised by ongoing personal turmoil.

Hassan has recently faced difficult personal circumstances, including legal disputes with his former wife, Dan Adam, which have played out in public courts. Shikabala emphasized that the current media storm surrounding the coach undermines his standing. "The best option is to submit his resignation from leading the Egyptian national team, as a coach must have authority among the players," Shikabala stated during the broadcast, clarifying that his comments stemmed from personal concern rather than sporting critiques.

The public remarks carry added weight given the history between the two figures. Shikabala played under Hassan at Zamalek between 2009 and 2011, performing at a high level during that tenure. Meanwhile, the Egyptian squad is currently preparing for upcoming Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers against Malawi during the November training camp, with the coaching staff set to unveil the player roster in the coming days.

Hassan and his twin brother and assistant, Ibrahim Hassan, will miss both matches due to a suspension issued by FIFA following incidents involving match officials. Hassan took the helm of the Pharaohs in February 2024 following the team's exit from the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 in Côte d'Ivoire, subsequently guiding the squad to the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.