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Egypt manager under fire for Hamza Abdelkarim's limited playing time

2 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 5, 2026, 8:20 AM

Last updated Oct 5, 2026

Egypt manager under fire for Hamza Abdelkarim's limited playing time

Summary

Hamza Abdelkarim, the Barcelona striker, is facing scrutiny over his limited role with Egypt's national team. During a recent friendly loss to South Africa, he was benched despite recent success, including scoring his first international goal against South Sudan. Post-match, a heated exchange between Hamza and manager Hossam Hassan was captured on video, further fueling criticism over the player's situation. Former player Bashir El Tabei has called for Hamza to be given more opportunities, especially in friendly matches, to help the team improve. Abdalekarim's status remains a topic of concern as he returns to Barcelona, where he may see more playing time due to teammate Raphinha's injury concerns.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Status Watch

•Hamza Abdelkarim started on the bench against South Africa.
•He scored his first goal for Egypt against South Sudan.
•Post-match, he had a tense exchange with coach Hossam Hassan.
•Former player Bashir El Tabei called for Hamza to start more often.
•Abdelkarim returns to Barcelona amid injury concerns for Raphinha.

Latest Updates

8:20 AMYahoo Sports — National team manager faces criticism over Barcelona youngster’s limited role
8:15 AMYahoo Sports — FC Barcelona Striker Hamza Abdelkarim Involved In Controversy

What they're saying

"
Hamza Abdelkarim is once again at the centre of attention in Egypt. The young Barcelona striker, one of the country’s biggest football prospects, is seeing his role with the senior national team dev...
— Yahoo Sports