This archive report was first published on 5 November 2019.
Published on November 5, 2019, ahead of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt's coach Hossam El-Badry has named Ahmed Fathi as team captain ahead of the match against Kenya.
The decision has sparked an ego battle between Fathi and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, with media reports suggesting a 'request' by the Egypt FA for Fathi to relinquish the captaincy for poster boy Mo Salah.
However, El Badry has clarified that the decision of the armband is his responsibility, and there are no problems between Salah and Fathi. He stated, 'The decision of the armband is the responsibility of the manager. There are no problems between Salah and Fathi. In the end, we decided the armband will go to the oldest player.'
But Fathi's agent Ader Shawky has disputed this, claiming that Fathi was left surprised by the request and turned it down. Shawky stated, 'Fathi was left surprised by this request and turned it down. I think he will not continue with the national team if captaincy was taken off him.'
Meanwhile, Kenya's Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa has announced that he doesn't have the funds yet to prepare the team and fly it to Cairo for the match.
