Liverpool star Mohamed Salah won’t be in the Egypt side to play New Zealand’s All Whites after the player asked not to be included in the Pharaohs’ squad.
Egypt manager Hossam Hassan has confirmed he won’t pick Salah for the match with New Zealand at the W Cup in Abu Dhabi on Saturday March 23.
“Salah’s exclusion from the final squad came after a request from the player and his club, as he prefers to focus on his recovery and train with Liverpool,” Hassan told a media briefing.
“Salah is an invaluable asset to the national team, and his presence in the squad adds considerable strength to the Pharaohs. We had hoped for his participation.
“We cannot force a player to join the squad.
“We do not want to jeopardize his return to full performance following the injury.”
Salah has been recovering from a hamstring injury suffered against Ghana in January’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
Since then, he’s managed 46 minutes’ game time, playing in Liverpool’s 5-1 win against Sparta Prague in the Europa League.
Hassan confirmed his squad’s domestic players will assemble in camp on March 13, to be joined by foreign-based players on March 17, and will head to United Arab Emirates on March 18.
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Fixture
Game to be played on Saturday March 23, 2024 (NZT)
New Zealand v Egypt
Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, 7am (NZT)
