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Ahmed Hassan Kouka has lifted the lid on his relationship with Mohamed Salah, his exclusion from the World Cup squad, and failed Benfica move.
The 26-year-old has enjoyed a marvellous season with Greek giants Olympiacos after joining them on loan from Portugal’s Sporting Braga last summer.
Kouka managed to score 15 goals in 32 games, which prompted the Greek side to submit an offer to sign the Egyptian on a permanent basis, however, it was rejected by the player’s parent club.
Things were not going well for the forward before his move to Greece, as after a poor season with Sporting Braga, which saw him score only six goals in 34 games, Kouka was getting ready to participate in Egypt’s first-ever World Cup in 28 years, when he was hit by unpleasant news.
The former Al Ahly forward was left out of the World Cup squad, with then Egypt’s manager Hector Cuper opting to go to Russia with only one forward in Marwan Mohsen.
Speaking to the Guardian about the incident, Kouka said: “I felt injustice because I was with them and the coach from the first camp and I was always fighting for my country, if I was put in I always fought to do my best.
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“I felt it was unfair because of all this. I was not expecting it but it’s the coach’s choice and I could do nothing about it.
“It didn’t take me down. It gives me motivation to work harder and to improve and thankfully I got the move to Olympiakos and had a good season. This tournament is very important for me and my country and it’s important I do well for myself and Egypt,” he added.
Kouka now has the chance to represent the Pharaohs in a major tournament after being named in the final 23-man squad for the 2019 AFCON alongside strikers Marwan Mohsen and Ahmed Ali.
It will be Kouka’s second AFCON participation after featuring in the 2017 edition, in which he made two appearances and assisted Mahmoud Kahraba’s winner against Morocco in the quarter-finals.
“We know that it’s a big tournament for Egypt and all African national teams. For us it is special as we are playing at home in front of our people. We know that it is going to be very tough but we will prepare and try to work very hard to make good things and hopefully win it for our people,” Kouka said.
Photo: Olympiacos FC
“In Egypt we take football very seriously. We don’t have many rich people; our people are simple. Football is what they live for in a crazy way. I think they love it more than any other country.
“I was in Greece last year and I know they are crazy, too, but in Egypt they take it very seriously. They wait for any win, so they can go into the streets to celebrate and be happy.”
Hassan started his career at the youth teams of Cairo giants Al Ahly, however, he never had the chance to play first-team football for them and instead moved to Portugal to sign for Rio Ave in 2011.
32 goals in 98 games was his scoring record with the Portuguese side and his form resulted in a move to European giants Benfica, but the move fell through after a heart condition was detected in the player’s medical.
“I got diagnosed with a really small thing which I had from birth,” Kouka says, playing it down, “so I had to have an operation at the time and Benfica had had a problem with a player who died on the pitch. So that is why they were concerned and we did not go forward with it but it was nothing serious. It was a small surgery and everything was normal and after that I signed with Braga and everything is fine in my life.”
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“It is a different feeling when you get an offer from a big team and it’s always been a dream of mine to play for one of the big teams in Europe and shows you’ve done something good. But I am never satisfied and this is something normal in a footballer who wants to reach the top. I always want more. I want to reach higher.”
Kouka concluded by hailing his ‘brother’ Mohamed Salah’s personality and footballing ability, and revealed that his dream is to play alongside the Liverpool forward in the Premier League.
“Salah for me is a brother, because I’ve known him since we were kids as we were always together in the national teams under-16, 17 until the first team, so I know him very well. He is a very humble guy, a role model for me and all Egyptians. It is a great feeling to play with one of the best players in the world right now.
