Mohamed Salah pays emotional tribute after death of former Egypt boss Ehab Galal
Mohamed Salah has paid an emotional tribute after the death of former Egypt boss Ehab Galal.
The Liverpool winger only scored for the Pharaohs in a 4-0 victory over Botswana in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying on Tuesday but has now been dealt some devastating news with the passing of one of his former national team managers.
Galal's cause of death is yet to be confirmed but various reports claim he had suffered a stroke on September 1.
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He passed away at the age of 57 having managed the likes of club sides Zamalek, El Masry, El Makkasa and Al Ahly Tripoli, as well Egypt's national team for three games in 2022.
Salah has since taken to X (formerly Twitter) to offer his condolences to Galal, writing alongside a picture of his former manager: "May God have mercy on the soul of the respected coach, Ehab Galal."
Galal had been in charge of Egyptian Premier League outfit Ismaily SC since August 2023 - the 12th club of his career - and guided them to a 14th-place finish last season.
The club's official X account also wrote on X: "Ismaily Club mourns, with great sadness and sorrow, one of its dear sons, and one of the most loyal supporters of the club, Captain Ihab Galal, the technical director of the club's first football team, who passed away in the past hours. To God we belong and to Him we shall return."
Galal had become a bit of a journeyman around Egypt although his longest stint lasted for three years between July 2014-August 2017 with fellow Egyptian outfit Makassa.
He was perhaps best known for being fired by the Egyptian FA after just three games in charge of the national team in 2022, however, following a shock 2-0 defeat to Ethiopia in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier and 4-1 friendly loss against South Korea.
In fact, Salah had been absent for both those games through injury, and it proved to be costly for Galal, despite winning his first game 1-0 against Guinea.
Egypt have just come off the back of two victories in the current international break, with Salah grabbing himself a goal and an assist across both fixtures.
He provided the assist for Egypt's second goal in the 3-0 victory over Cape Verde on Friday, before grabbing his side's third in the 4-0 rout of Botswana on Tuesday.