Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has been released from Egypt’s national team following their 2-0 win over Mauritania in an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier. The 32-year-old forward played a key role, scoring one of the goals in the victory that secured Egypt’s third consecutive win in the qualifiers.
Following discussions between Salah and the Egyptian FA, it was decided that the Liverpool forward would not participate in the upcoming return fixture against Mauritania. The match will be played on an artificial pitch at Stade Cheikha Ould Boidiya, which raised concerns over the surface’s potential impact on players, particularly Salah. Egypt’s head coach Hossam Hassan explained that the decision was made to prioritize Salah’s well-being, especially considering the tough playing conditions.
In a statement, the Egyptian FA said: “The technical staff, led by manager Hossam Hassan, held a meeting with Mohamed Salah, the team captain. It was agreed to rest Salah from the upcoming match.” Salah took to social media to share his reflections, celebrating the goal he scored and expressing pride in the team’s performance.
Hassan also revealed that he is open to resting players who have concerns about playing on artificial surfaces, adding: “If any player, especially Salah, asks me not to play on artificial turf, I will agree. The conditions in Mauritania are challenging, and the pitch is not ideal.”
Elsewhere, Liverpool players Virgil van Dijk and Curtis Jones have also been released from their respective international duties. Van Dijk was sent off during the Netherlands’ match against Hungary, while Jones is dealing with a personal matter and will not travel with the England squad to face Finland.
Meanwhile, several other Liverpool players, including Caoimhin Kelleher, Kostas Tsimikas, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo, and Ryan Gravenberch, remain on international duty and are expected to return in time for Liverpool’s next fixture.