Liverpool and Egypt Set for Tug-of-War Over Mohamed Salah’s AFCON Availability
Mohamed Salah could soon find himself at the centre of a potential dispute between Liverpool and the Egyptian national team over his participation in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The 33-year-old forward is expected to miss part of Liverpool’s hectic winter schedule, with AFCON taking place from 21 December to 18 January. As one of the tournament favourites, Egypt’s run could extend deep into the competition, meaning Salah might be away from Merseyside for several crucial fixtures.
Reports from Egypt suggest that national team coach Hossam Hassan intends to hold a training camp two weeks before the tournament begins, which could further shorten Salah’s time with Liverpool.
Salah Seeking Compromise
According to Mail Sport’s Lewis Steele, Salah plans to speak with Hassan next week in hopes of reaching a mutual agreement that accommodates both Liverpool’s needs and his international commitments.
Under CAF regulations, Egypt are entitled to call up players 14 days before the tournament kicks off. If Hassan opts to enforce that rule, Salah would be unavailable for Liverpool’s Champions League trip to Inter Milan (9 December) and the Premier League clash with Brighton (13 December).
However, Salah’s preference is clear — he wants to feature in both fixtures before joining Egypt’s squad. Liverpool’s exit from the Carabao Cup has created a rare midweek break after the Brighton match, potentially easing the transition.
Best and Worst-Case Scenarios
In the best-case scenario, Salah would remain with Liverpool until mid-December and Egypt would exit the tournament early, allowing him to return in time for the New Year’s Day fixture against Leeds United — though that timeline remains tight.
The worst-case outcome, however, would see him join Egypt’s camp early and stay until the final stages of AFCON, forcing him to miss as many as eight matches, including away trips to Tottenham and Arsenal.
A Familiar Mid-Season Challenge
This will be the third time Salah has departed mid-season for AFCON duties. While the 2021 tournament passed without incident, the 2023 edition (played in January 2024) sparked controversy when Salah returned early due to injury. His premature comeback drew criticism in Egypt and coincided with a noticeable dip in Liverpool’s title challenge as he recovered.
With Liverpool once again in a tight race on multiple fronts, manager Arne Slot will be eager to avoid a repeat. The hope is that a balanced solution can be found — one that allows Salah to honour his national duties while still minimising disruption to Liverpool’s campaign.
