Mohamed Salah faces potential club-versus-country standoff as Egypt push for early AFCON call-up

Mohamed Salah could once again find himself in the middle of a club-versus-country dispute, as Liverpool brace for discussions with Egypt over his Africa Cup of Nations preparations.

The Liverpool forward is scheduled to meet Egypt coach Hossam Hassan during the November international window to determine when he will join the Pharaohs’ training camp.

The decision could see him miss as many as 10 matches for the Reds if Egypt progress deep into the tournament.

Egypt are expected to begin their AFCON camp in early December, with friendlies lined up against the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Nigeria between December 9 and 14.

According to reports from Cairo, Hassan has the authority to summon Salah and Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush for those fixtures.

Liverpool are reluctant to release their talisman that early, with critical Premier League and Champions League matches against Leeds United and Inter Milan scheduled in the same week.

Salah, too, is reportedly keen to stay for those encounters before joining Egypt’s camp the following week.

The 33-year-old’s situation echoes a similar controversy two years ago when Liverpool asked Egypt’s Football Association to excuse Salah from a national team call-up to protect his fitness.

That move provoked anger among supporters in Cairo, who argued that the country had every right to call up their captain.

Although the Egyptian FA later accepted Liverpool’s request, tensions between both camps have lingered.

With AFCON fast approaching, Salah is determined to avoid another fallout, while both sides seek a compromise that protects his form and fitness.