Mido angered by national team ban

MIDO accused the Egyptian Football Association of an overreaction last night as he faced up to missing the African Nations Cup final.

The Tottenham striker has been thrown out of the Egypt squad following his heated touchline dispute with Pharaohs coach Hassan Shehata, and banned from international football for six months.

Mido admitted to being “very angry and very disappointed” at his expulsion, but he denied there had been any malice in his actions late on in yesterday’s semi-final victory over Senegal.

The 22-year-old and Shehata were involved in an ugly row at pitchside at the time of the 79th-minute switch, but Mido defended himself.

“I was talking to him in our language, saying ‘why are you always changing me?’,” Mido said.

“I didn’t insult him.”

Mido’s replacement, Amr Zaki, netted Egypt’s winner almost immediately after coming on.

“I didn’t have any problem with the guy who came on and scored the goal and didn’t have any problem with the manager,” said Mido.

He even claims there would be a chance of him playing in the future under Shehata.

“You never know,” he said. “All I’m thinking about now is I want to forget about what happened here.

“I want to come back to London, I want to train with my team-mates, I want to score goals for Spurs and to win games and qualify for Europe.”

As for the punishment, Mido said: “I think they overreacted. This is how things are going in Egypt and this is football here.

“I feel sorry for the fans. I think they wanted me to play in the final.

“It’s really disappointing but at the same time I’m happy I reached the final with my team-mates, which was very important for me, and if we win the tournament I’ll be part of the champions.”

Mido is expected to return to England before tomorrow's final, barring an unlikely change of heart from the Egyptian authorities.

“I’ll be coming back to Spurs but I’ll watch the game and I hope Egypt can win the tournament because I’ll be part of the victory because I played the whole tournament,” said Mido.

“There has (been) no insult out of me. I’ve never insulted the manager.

“I was just not even complaining - just asking why he was always changing me.

“The people at the FA overreacted but this is life. Now I want to pass this problem. I’m very angry and very disappointed and I always play better when I’m disappointed. I hope I can score goals for Spurs until the end of the season.

“I hope they (Egypt) can win without me. I don’t think I will make a big difference. The other players are very good. I will be very happy if we can win the game.”

Shehata was stunned by Mido’s actions.

“Mido’s reaction was irresponsible and shocking,” said the coach.

He refused to confirm whether he had played a part in the subsequent punishment of the striker.

Shehata added: “The decision was made by the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) board and all parties have to respect it.”