Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Liverpool are bracing for a potential clash with Egypt over the availability of star forward Mohamed Salah as the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) approaches, with the tournament threatening to sideline him for a significant portion of the Premier League season.
The competition, scheduled to begin on December 21, poses a dilemma for Liverpool, who are already preparing to lose Salah over the busy festive period. The primary concern, however, is the timing of Salah’s release to Egypt’s national team. Reports suggest that Egypt plan to convene a training camp on December 8, followed by a pre-tournament friendly against Nigeria on December 14. Egyptian officials are expected to want Salah with the squad for as long as possible, while Liverpool aim to delay his departure to maximize his availability during a crucial phase of their campaign.
This is not the first time tensions have arisen between the two sides. Two years ago, similar disagreements over Salah’s release for international duty created friction, and sources indicate negotiations may again become contentious.
Salah himself is reportedly keen to postpone joining the training camp in order to feature in as many matches as possible for Liverpool. The Reds face a challenging Champions League fixture against Inter Milan on December 9, followed by a Premier League clash with Brighton & Hove Albion. Salah hopes to remain with the club until after the Brighton game, although a final agreement with Egypt’s manager Hossam Hassan will need to be reached. Formal discussions are expected during the upcoming international break.
Even if Salah secures a delayed departure, he could still miss up to eight Liverpool matches during a critical period for the team. He is certain to miss the Premier League trip to Tottenham Hotspur on December 20, and the visit to Arsenal in January is likely to come too soon unless Egypt are eliminated early from the group stage. The AFCON tournament concludes on January 18.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot faces a significant challenge in navigating this period without one of his key players, highlighting the recurring tension between club and country commitments in modern football.
