Mohamed Abdelmonem leaves Egypt camp amid reported tension after Salah exit

Mohamed Abdelmonem has left the Egypt squad during the international break, days after Mohamed Salah also departed the camp, with reports of growing tension between the Nice defender and the national team’s technical and administrative staff.

Nice announced on Thursday that Abdelmonem had returned to the club by mutual agreement with the Egypt coaching staff. The defender had been included in the squad but did not play in the goalless draw against Angola in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying and did not travel to South Sudan.

Egypt had been concerned about the possibility of Abdelmonem suffering an injury on the artificial-turf pitch in South Sudan. Nice said his departure was agreed to protect his fitness and physical wellbeing.

“By mutual agreement with the staff of the Egypt national team, Mohamed Abdelmonem has left the national team camp to preserve his fitness and physical integrity,” the French club said.

“​​This decision was taken jointly, given the conditions under which the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match was to be played, particularly on an artificial-turf surface, and the shared desire not to risk the player’s health.”

Nice added: “The club is doing everything possible to ensure that Mohamed, like all of its international players, can join and represent his country in the best possible conditions, with particular attention paid to their health, recovery and physical safety.”

The club concluded: “Nice would like to thank the Egypt staff for their mutual agreement and understanding, as well as for the work they carried out with Mohamed during this camp. Mohamed will now continue his work with Nice to prepare in the best possible conditions for the challenges ahead.”

The announcement came from Nice, while the Egyptian Football Association had issued no explanation about Abdelmonem’s departure at the time of publication.

Salah left the Egypt camp after the Angola match, in which he was substituted during the second half. The Egyptian Football Association said the Trabzonspor player would miss the qualifier against South Sudan because the match was being played on a “tartan” surface that he was unable to play on.

Egypt are also due to face South Africa in a friendly on Sunday. Broadcaster Ahmed Shobier said Abdelmonem would not take part in that match either and claimed there was significant unhappiness between the player and the national-team staff.

“Mohamed Abdelmonem will also not be present for the South Africa match on Sunday. Quite clearly, there is a great deal of anger between Mohamed Abdelmonem and the technical and administrative staff,” Shobier said in radio comments.

“I hope the issue is resolved early between the national-team staff and Abdelmonem rather than escalating significantly, because they are angry with him, and they have a right to be.”

He added: “I am not treating any player unfairly, but the technical staff have the right to be angry with Mohamed Abdelmonem. I hope the player takes the initiative to end the dispute and the anger, because we need him, as we need all the players in the national team.”

The reported frustration follows Abdelmonem’s refusal to play against South Sudan and a letter from Nice requesting that he be left out of the match, before negotiations led to his departure from the camp.