Egypt Releases Liverpool Star Mohamed Salah From National Squad

Egypt captain, Mohamed Salah, will not play in next week’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Mauritania, club side Liverpool confirmed on Saturday.

The 32-year-old has “been released early from international duty amid the ongoing October break,” Liverpool said.

On Friday, Salah scored Egypt’s opening goal in a 2-0 win over Mauritania and had been due to play a second fixture against the same opponents on Tuesday.

Egypt manager, Hossam Hassan, had told journalists in Cairo on Friday that there were concerns over playing on Mauritania’s artificial turf and injury fears.

Seven-time African champions Egypt encountered strong resistance from Mauritania until Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan scored in the 69th minute of the Group C match.

Prolific Liverpool scorer Salah put the outcome beyond doubt with a second goal 10 minutes later to maintain the perfect record of the Pharaohs after three rounds.

Egypt requires just one point in their next match to qualify, currently holding a six-point lead over rivals Cape Verde, Botswana, and Mauritania.

Liverpool also confirmed that Dutch defender, Virgil van Dijk, had been released early from international duty.

Van Dijk was sent off while playing for the Netherlands after receiving two yellow cards in a 1-1 UEFA Nations League draw against Hungary.

“The pair will take no further part for their respective nations this month after the decision was made to relieve them both early from their international commitments.”