FC Barcelona striker Hamza Abdelkarim has been involved in a controversy while on international duty with Egypt.
The youngster has been a permanent part of the furniture for The Pharaohs in 2026. And though not a regular starter, he formed part of the outfit that took a 2-0 lead against holders Argentina at the World Cup this summer, before then losing 3-2 thanks to a 93rd minute Enzo Fernandez winner.
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As we often see for club and country with the teenager, Hamza started Egypt’s friendly against South Africa, the last of the fixtures across this extended international window, from the bench.
Given he scored his first international goal against South Sudan at the end of September, during a 5-0 win, there were calls for Hamza to get the nod from the outset.
They weren’t heeded, however, with the teenager only entering the fray in the 69th minute when replacing Tottenham Hotspur‘s Omar Mamoush.
After the 0-1 defeat, the forward was involved in a heated discussion with his manager Hossam Hassan captured by Egyptian media.
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The incident has been reported as a “reproach” from the manager in their homeland, and it’s worth noting that the pair didn’t shake hands after the exchange.
In Egypt, a debate has been fuelled about this and Hamza’s lack of opportunities, with respected local voice Bashir El Tabei calling for him to be involved more in the national team’s action.
“The team has no personality or charisma, except for Muhannad Lashin, and it would have been better to include Hamza Abdulkarim in the starting line-up and give him a greater chance, especially considering that it is a friendly match,” said El Tabei.
The former Al-Ahly star will now head back to Catalunya, where his lot could improve in the pecking order behind Raphinha.
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The Brazilian returned home early from his Selecao exploits Down Under nursing discomfort in his troubled right thigh.
Though tests thankfully came back negative in terms of potentially having an injury, head coach Hansi Flick would be wise to perhaps rest Raphinha on Saturday against Getafe or at other points of a packed October taking in crunch clashes against the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid in the Champions League and El Clasico.
This would in turn open up a race for FC Barcelona strikers’ role between Gabriel Jesus and Hamza. Simultaneously, however, you can’t put it past Flick perhaps converting another winger like high-flying Anthony Gordon or Karim Adeyemi.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
