Reading midfielder Andy Rinomhota could face Liverpool star Mo Salah in Zimbabwe's first AFCON fixture as he receives national call up.
The Royals academy graduate returned to Reading in November after a three-year spell with Cardiff City, which saw the midfielder play 82 games for the Bluebirds across the Championship, the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
So far Rinomhota has only played four minutes for Reading when he came on as a substitute during the Royals' 3-0 win over Blackpool at Bloomfield Road. Though has been selected for the bench in the last three league games.
The midfielder could out of the Reading squad from December 21 until January 18, depending on how far the squad progresses in the competition.
Rinomhota has started 13 games for Zimbabwe since 2023, with his most recent appearance being in a 1-1 draw with Nigeria during their World Cup Qualification matches.
Zimbabwe failed to qualify for the World Cup as they managed to accumulate only five points from ten games in their group. Rinomhota did help Zimbabwe secure a place in AFCON as he played in all their group stage games - amassing nine points in six games.
Zimbabwe are in Group B in AFCON where they will face Egypt, South Africa and Angola. Their first fixture will be against Mo Salah's Egypt, the all-time record holder of the competition with seven titles, on December 22.
Mo Salah has recently sensationally claimed that he has been “thrown under the bus” and has no relationship with Arne Slot as the Liverpool star revealed next week’s match against Brighton could be his last game at Anfield.
Salah, who will join up with Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations on December 15, said he does not understand why last season’s best player “has to defend himself in front of the media and fans”.