The tension eventually peaked during a period of absences that Saleh claims forced the board’s hand.
He detailed a breakdown in communication, stating: “Mosimane travelled for a vacation, then went to Morocco to conduct a training course, and then returned to South Africa and the team prepared for a match. Al-Khatib held a meeting with the football company and the planning committee, and there was a video call with Mosimane.”
According to the former director, the relationship ended when the coach allegedly used health concerns to avoid returning to Cairo.
“We asked him to come to Egypt to play the matches, but he told us that he was sick. He felt that we were going to make a decision to dismiss him, and his response was quick: we can terminate the contract amicably, there is no problem,” he added.
“Al-Khatib decided that the football company, along with Hossam Ghaly, would take responsibility for finding a new technical director, and they signed the contract with Ricardo Soares.”