Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy has asked to be left out of Egypt’s squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Cote d’Ivoire.
The ex-Wigan Athletic midfielder officially informed the Egyptian FA that he will not be available in the Pharoahs squad at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations tournament next month as he included in the provisional squad.
“Off course it will be more difficult planning and it will be better if we knew but it is just the way it is.” Ipswich Town Manager Kieran McKenna said this prior to Morsy’s withdrawal from the selection process.
The Egyptian will be out of action on Friday’s fixture in the English Championship against Queens Park Rangers after using abusing abusive words towards a match official in a game against Middlesbrough as he has been charged by the FA.
Morsy was part of the Egyptian contingent when they made a World Cup return after 28 years in Russia 2018 and recently had a call up in September this year.
But it seems the 32-year-old has no intention of joining his compatriots for the adventure in Cote d’Ivoire next year.
After losing in the finals against Senegal in the 2021 finals, they missed out on the World Cup spot again 3 months later against the African Champions in a playoff.
Besides, Morsy’s absence wouldn’t be quite a big blow as he has not regularly featured among the mainstay men in midfield.
With Mohamed Elneny, Hamdi Fathi, Amr El Solaya, Marwan Attia, Emam Ashour, the Pharoahs have the men in the middle to bank their hopes on as the AFCON beckons.
Egypt faces Ghana, Cape Verde, and Mozambique all in Group B in Ivory Coast as the continental showpiece happens next January.
