The truth about Mohamed Salah and El Shenawy's international retirement... an official response
The administrative staff of the Egyptian national football team has settled the widespread controversy that arose in the past few hours regarding the future of the team's two leaders, global star Mohamed Salah and veteran goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy, following the Pharaohs' failure to reach the final match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations currently being held in the Kingdom of Morocco.
A definitive official response to the rumors
In exclusive statements to Okaz newspaper, the Egyptian national team's media coordinator, Mohamed Murad, categorically denied all reports circulating about the duo's intention to retire from international football. Murad emphasized that the rumors about Mohamed Salah informing his teammates of his decision to retire after the 2026 World Cup, or Mohamed El Shenawy considering hanging up his international gloves immediately, are "completely unfounded." He explained that the atmosphere within the camp is one of sadness due to the loss, but the national spirit and commitment to the team remain at their highest levels among all the players.
Behind the scenes of the loss against Senegal
Rumors swirled after Egypt's 1-0 defeat to Senegal in Wednesday night's semi-final. This match marked another chapter in the fierce rivalry between the two teams in recent years, with Senegal repeatedly thwarting the Pharaohs' dreams of continental glory and qualification for international tournaments. Despite a strong performance, the Pharaohs were unable to break their curse against the "Lions of Teranga" in this edition, and their focus now shifts to the third-place match against Nigeria next Saturday, where they will attempt to salvage some pride and return with a bronze medal.
The postponed dream of the eighth star
These events come at a painful historical juncture for Egyptian fans, as the Egyptian national team reigns supreme in Africa, having won the title seven times. However, the "eighth star" has eluded the Pharaohs since their last triumph under the guidance of Hassan Shehata's golden generation in 2010 in Angola. Since then, the team reached the final in 2017 and 2021 but lost at the last hurdle, heightening the fans' sensitivity to any further setbacks and intensifying the pressure on star players like Salah and El Shenawy.
The importance of maintaining the basic structure
Analysts believe that the continued presence of Mohamed Salah and Mohamed El Shenawy is crucial for the national team's future, especially with important upcoming matches, most notably the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Mohamed Salah not only represents immense technical prowess as one of the world's best players, but he is also an inspirational leader for the current squad. Similarly, El Shenawy is the team's defensive linchpin, and talk of their retirement at this time could destabilize a team striving to build a new generation that blends experience and youth to reclaim African glory and qualify for the next World Cup.
