Mohamed Salah is expected to step away from the rising pressure at Liverpool when he links up with Egypt in Morocco next week for the Africa Cup of Nations, following his recent public friction with Reds manager Arne Slot.
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan confirmed Salah’s inclusion on Thursday as he announced his 28-man squad for the tournament, which begins on 21 December. The 33-year-old winger will miss at least two Premier League fixtures during Egypt’s group-stage campaign.
Salah triggered a media storm after last weekend’s draw with Leeds United, claiming he had been made a “scapegoat” for Liverpool’s dip in form and acknowledging a deterioration in his relationship with Slot. The forward was an unused substitute against Leeds and West Ham last month, and was omitted altogether from the travelling squad for Liverpool’s midweek Champions League win at Inter Milan.
He will, however, be available for Saturday’s match against Brighton after FIFA clarified that players are only required to report to their national teams one week before the Africa Cup kicks off. During the group stage, Liverpool will also face Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers without him.
Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush has also been named in Egypt’s squad, alongside former Aston Villa midfielder Mahmoud Trezeguet, now playing for Al-Ahly.
Egypt, seven-time continental champions, begin their campaign on 22 December against Zimbabwe, followed by group matches against South Africa on 26 December and Angola on 29 December.
Goalkeepers: Mohamed El-Shenawy (Al-Ahly), Ahmed El-Shenawy (Pyramids), Mostafa Shobeir (Al-Ahly), Mohamed Sobhi (Zamalek)
Defenders: Mohamed Hany (Al-Ahly), Ahmed Eid (El-Masry), Rami Rabia (Al-Ain), Khaled Sobhi (El-Masry), Yasser Ibrahim (Al-Ahly), Mohamed Ismail (Zamalek), Hossam Abdelmaguid (Zamalek), Mohamed Hamdy (Pyramids), Ahmed Fatouh (Zamalek)
Midfielders: Marwan Ateya (Al-Ahly), Hamdy Fathy (Al-Wakrah), Mohanad Lasheen (Pyramids), Mahmoud Saber (Zed), Mohamed Shehata (Zamalek), Emam Ashour (Al-Ahly), Ahmed Zizo (Al-Ahly), Mahmoud Trezeguet (Al-Ahly), Ibrahim Adel (Al-Jazira), Mostafa Fathi (Pyramids), Omar Marmoush (Manchester City), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Forwards: Mostafa Mohamed (Nantes), Salah Mohsen (El-Masry), Osama Faisal (National Bank of Egypt)
