Mohamed Salah could miss up to eight matches for Liverpool during the Africa Cup of Nations as Egypt push to secure his early release. The Egypt captain is set to feature in the tournament which runs from December 22 to January 18 in Morocco. But the Pharaohs want him available for a warm-up friendly against Nigeria on December 14, just one day after Liverpool host Brighton in the Premier League.
Talks are ongoing between the Egyptian Football Association and Liverpool over when Salah will be released. National team director Ibrahim Hassan confirmed discussions remain active, saying: “We are still in contact with Liverpool and Manchester City at the moment for this matter.” Similar negotiations are underway with Man City regarding Omar Marmoush.
The situation threatens to disrupt Liverpool’s packed festive schedule. If Egypt reach the final and Salah is released early for the Nigeria friendly, he could be absent for crucial Premier League and FA Cup fixtures at a pivotal point in the season.
Egypt push for Mo Salah release ahead of AFCON opener
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Egypt begin their AFCON campaign against Zimbabwe on December 22. That match alone guarantees Salah will miss Liverpool’s clash with Wolves on December 27. He is also expected to be unavailable for the Tottenham game on December 20, with Egypt’s opener coming just two days later.
The complications arise with Egypt’s desire to include Salah in their warm-up match against Nigeria on December 14. That friendly falls one day after Liverpool face Brighton at Anfield. Releasing Salah early would mean him missing that Premier League fixture along with potential cup commitments.
If Egypt progress deep into the tournament, Salah’s absence could extend significantly. The Pharaohs reached the final in both 2017 and 2022 with Salah in the squad. A similar run this time would keep him away until late January, potentially covering eight matches across all competitions.
Mohamed Salah AFCON absence timeline for Liverpool
Egypt face Zimbabwe, South Africa and Angola in the group stage. Those fixtures guarantee Salah will be unavailable for at least two Liverpool matches in late December. The knockout rounds begin in early January, with the final scheduled for January 18.
Liverpool’s fixture congestion makes the timing particularly challenging. The Reds compete across multiple fronts including the Premier League title race, FA Cup and potential European commitments. Losing their leading scorer for an extended period could prove costly.
Salah recently won his 107th cap for Egypt in a friendly defeat to Uzbekistan. He was rested for Monday’s match against Cape Verde but remains central to his country’s World Cup preparations. The 33-year-old helped Egypt qualify for the 2026 tournament back in October.
Injury concerns from previous AFCON tournament
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Salah’s last AFCON appearance ended prematurely. He suffered a hamstring injury during the group stage at the start of 2024, forcing him to miss the remainder of the tournament. That injury kept him sidelined for seven Liverpool matches, including the Carabao Cup final victory over Chelsea in February.
The injury history adds another layer of concern for Liverpool. Salah is chasing 61 international goals and sits just eight behind Egypt’s all-time leading scorer Hossam Hassan. As national team captain, he will be determined to lead his country through the tournament regardless of club complications.
Hassan is also a family name that carries weight in Egyptian football. The pressure on Salah to deliver for his country remains immense, making it unlikely he would consider skipping the tournament even if Liverpool requested it.
Liverpool face key decisions over Salah release
The club must now decide whether to grant Egypt’s request for early release. Doing so would demonstrate goodwill but cost them valuable points during a congested fixture period. Refusing could strain relationships with the Egyptian FA and potentially impact Salah’s focus.
Hassan’s comments confirm talks are ongoing with both Liverpool and Manchester City. The outcome will set a precedent for how clubs handle similar requests during future international tournaments. Liverpool have dealt with this situation before but never with stakes this high in a title race.
The next few weeks will determine the final arrangement. Egypt want their captain as soon as possible. Liverpool need their top scorer for as long as they can keep him. Compromise seems inevitable, but the question remains where that compromise lands and how many matches Salah ultimately misses.