Mohamed Salah may soon find himself at the centre of a dispute between Liverpool and the Egyptian national team ahead of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The 33-year-old attacker is set to miss several of Liverpool’s matches over the festive period as he prepares to join Egypt for the tournament, which runs from 21 December to 18 January in Morocco. With Egypt considered strong contenders to go deep into the competition, Salah’s time away from Anfield could stretch well into the new year.
Reports in Egypt claim that head coach Hossam Hassan intends to gather his squad for a training camp two weeks before AFCON kicks off — a decision that would force Salah to miss even more games for Liverpool. The forward, however, is said to prefer remaining with his club for as long as possible before linking up with his country.
According to Lewis Steele of Mail Sport, Salah is expected to speak with Hassan next week in hopes of finding a compromise. Under FIFA rules, Egypt can officially call him up 14 days before the tournament begins, meaning he could miss Liverpool’s Champions League tie against Inter Milan on 9 December and their Premier League meeting with Brighton on 13 December.
Salah’s desire is to be available for those matches before travelling to join Egypt, particularly since Liverpool’s early elimination from the Carabao Cup gives them a less congested schedule during that period.
If everything falls in Liverpool’s favour and Egypt exit the tournament early, Salah could return in time for the New Year’s Day clash with Leeds. But should the Pharaohs reach the semi-finals or final, he might miss as many as eight matches, including crucial away games at Tottenham and Arsenal.
This would be the third occasion Salah leaves mid-season to compete at AFCON. His last appearance in 2023 ended in disappointment after an injury cut his tournament short, affecting both his momentum and Liverpool’s title challenge.
With Salah keen to remain on Merseyside for as long as possible, manager Arne Slot will hope Egypt’s staff are willing to compromise — ensuring their talisman stays sharp, healthy, and mentally ready for a demanding stretch of the season.
