Al Ahly extends goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy's contract until 2028
Al Ahly announces a two-year contract extension for captain and goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy, following comments by Egypt's national coach.
Key Takeaways
AIEgyptian club Al Ahly announced on Monday evening that it has extended the contract of its first-team captain and goalkeeper, Mohamed El-Shenawy, for an additional two years, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2027-2028 season.
The decision follows controversial remarks by Egypt national team coach Hossam Hassan regarding El-Shenawy's future, in which he suggested he had given the goalkeeper an opportunity to join the national squad despite describing him as "finished."
In its official statement, Al Ahly said that El-Shenawy, 37, signed the contract extension during a meeting with Essam Siraj El-Din, head of player recruitment, and Wael Gomaa, the club's football director.
El-Shenawy and fans react
El-Shenawy expressed his deep appreciation for the club's recognition of his long career, and thanked Al Ahly supporters for their recent backing. He described the fans as "the backbone and support for the club and its players," highlighting their role in motivating the team to achieve further victories and titles.
Background to the comments and reactions
Hossam Hassan had stated at a press conference ahead of the Angola vs Egypt match, which opened the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, that he supported El-Shenawy by giving him a chance to play in the 2026 World Cup. His comments drew widespread criticism from Al Ahly's management and fans, prompting him to later clarify his respect for the goalkeeper and attribute the controversy to a misunderstanding.