Egypt in the Spotlight: Controversy Mounts as Salah Sends Egypt Through to AFCON 2025 Knockouts
6 January 2026
Controversy Surrounds Egypt's Stand
Allegations that Egypt's coach Hossam Hassan insulted Moroccan fans sparked wide reactions inside the Pharaohs' camp.
Egypt beat Benin 3-1 in the Round of 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025, hosted by Morocco.
Hossam Hassan sparked further controversy after Mohamed Salah's third goal for Egypt in stoppage time of extra time, as he directed gestures toward the Moroccan crowd.
Some reports described his signals as provocative toward Moroccan fans, potentially exposing him to a suspension of three matches under tournament rules.
Ibrahim Hassan, the team's manager, was seen in footage signaling something some interpreted as a refusal to salute the fans in support of Benin.
KOOORA reported that Egypt's technical staff are preparing video clips to prove they saluted Moroccan supporters and deny any wrongdoing.
Hossam Hassan asked Egyptian Football Association president Hany Abu Rida, who sits on the CAF Executive Committee, about penalties; he was told no official sanctions had been issued yet.
Egypt are preparing to face Ivory Coast in the quarterfinals on the coming Saturday.
The Pharaohs trained in light recovery sessions after beating Benin, in readiness for the quarterfinal.
Punchline 1: If drama were a sport, Egypt just won Best Supporting Role in a knockout edition.
Punchline 2: Salah's late strike may have sealed the match, but the real victory tonight was the headline writers.
