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For some Egyptian football fans, watching Mohamed Salah qualify for Egypt’s two World Cups in 2018 and 2026 will be incomparable. “Golden generation” they didn’t get their shot in 2006, 2010 or 2014.
“It’s not good to compare the two generations,” Ahmed Elshiekh, a former national team player who now covers the World Cup for Modern MTI TV, told Al Jazeera.
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“The golden generation did everything except reach the World Cup. They beat Italy (when they became World Cup champions). Playing in tournaments didn’t make them happy.”
Salah is the captain and leader of the current generation. He won every trophy awarded while playing for Liverpool in the a a glittering career of nine years which saw him become the most successful foreigner in the history of the English Premier League.
Due to his position, it is perhaps not surprising that Salah took the blame for the AFCON drought that started in 2010. His success in drawing Egypt to the 2018 World Cup in Russia is being dismissed because Egypt was the first team to be eliminated. Fit-half Salah, who broke his shoulder in the UEFA Champions League final, scored twice, but Egypt lost all three games, including to Saudi Arabia.
The failure was compounded when Egypt lost the AFCON 2021 final to Senegal on penalties. Thirteen months later, Egypt faced Senegal in the World Cup and lost again on penalties. In the first shot, Salah was selected for the fifth but did not get the chance to take his penalty. On the second shot, perhaps realizing his mistake, he went first and missed.
Salah may be one of the best players in the Premier League, but Egyptian fans were disappointed. To ease their pain, they recalled the team that was selected as African champions in 2006, 2008 and 2010 – success led by midfielder Mohamed Aboutrika, who is as famous for his “Sympathise with Gaza” T-shirt as he was before.
The frustration was so deep that the fans lost hope in their national team. AFCON 2023 was marred by an injury to Salah, who opted to return to Liverpool to recuperate but promised to return if the team reached the final. Egypt’s campaign ended shortly after the end of the term, courtesy of a penalty shootout defeat in the Round of 16.
Working at that time as an Egyptian TV commentator, Egypt manager Hossam Hassan said that if Salah did this on his watch, “he will not be selected for the national team”.
A few weeks later, Hassan was appointed to lead the national team after the sacking of Rui Vitoria.
Many people say that the only reason the Egyptian Football Association hired Hassan was because financial problems prevented them from attracting a foreign manager.
“Hossam Hassan as a player has achieved everything you can imagine,” said Elsheikh, referring to the former player’s record of 69 goals for Egypt and three AFCON titles.
“But as a manager, we saw what he could do, and the results were not good. … Also he caused problems and caused problems.”
The problems Elsheikh mentioned were typical of Hassan’s coaching career marked by controversy and conflicts with fans.
But the appointment turned out to be a no-brainer.
Salah finds form under Hassan
Instead of arguing with Salah, he and Hassan entered the hip. If there is anyone who can understand the pressure in Salah’s place, it is Hassan who has been there before but it is an added concern because he played a lot in Egypt and across the Cairo area when he left Al Ahly to sign for the dangerous players of Zamalek.
“Hassan has the personality of a captain and is very active. He may not be the strongest technically, but he provides a solid defense,” said Elsheikh.
Salah enjoyed rich form under Hassan. Egypt went into the 2026 World Cup undefeated, winning eight of their 10 matches. The team also reached the finals of the 2025 AFCON tournament – not that the performance silenced any doubters.
Of course, it’s not all about Salah. Egypt has some talented players, including Man City’s Omar Marmoush and Al Ahly’s Emam Ashour.
Their unbeaten team enters the round of 16 to face defending champions Argentina on Tuesday. Egypt has overcome many difficulties to reach the stage of the competition.
A second-round comeback against New Zealand in the group stage required the country’s first World Cup win. Salah pulled out of the group’s final match against Iran with a hamstring injury, but played the full 120 minutes scoring penalties for Australia in the last 32. The 34-year-old reversed his rise with Panenka against Socceroos midfielder Mat Ryan.
After that victory, Aboutrika, who is now a beIN Sports expert, did his best to pass the baton to the new generation.
Goalkeeper Ashour expressed his delight at being compared to Aboutrika, saying his goal was “to be half or a quarter as good as him”.
Later in the studio, Aboutrika replied: “You are better than (me) You scored two goals in the World Cup, “confirming that this was the biggest night in the history of Egyptian football.
Not everyone is convinced.
“Egypt’s team is better than any we’ve seen in years, it’s still strong,” said Karim Zidan, a writer who focuses on sports, power and politics.
Salah, meanwhile, was also asked who was the greatest Egyptian player of all time and returned to Aboutrika, saying “there is no discussion.”
