Mohamed Abdel Moneim leaves Egypt camp amid reported tensions with coaching staff

Egypt have suffered another setback during the international break after defender Mohamed Abdel Moneim left the national team camp, days after Mohamed Salah also departed the squad.

Abdel Moneim’s departure comes ahead of Egypt’s friendly against South Africa and follows concerns over playing conditions, as well as reported tensions between the defender and the national team’s technical and administrative staff.

French club Nice confirmed the defender’s exit from the camp on Thursday, saying the decision was reached jointly with the Egypt coaching staff to protect the player’s physical condition.

Nice confirms Abdel Moneim’s departure

Abdel Moneim was included in Egypt’s squad for the current international window but did not feature in the goalless draw against Angola in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

He also did not travel for the subsequent qualifier against South Sudan, with concerns reportedly centred on the artificial turf at the venue.

Nice said: “By mutual agreement with the Egyptian national team staff, Mohamed Abdelmonem has left the national team camp in order to preserve his physical fitness and safety.”

The French club added: “This decision was taken jointly, given the circumstances under which the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier was held, especially on artificial turf and with the shared desire not to risk the player’s health.”

Nice also said it was committed to ensuring its international players could represent their countries while maintaining appropriate attention to their health and recovery.

The club concluded: “The club would like to thank the Egyptian national team staff for their mutual agreement and understanding, and for the work they did with Mohamed during this meeting. Mohamed will now continue his work with Nice in order to prepare in the best possible conditions for the upcoming challenges.”

Salah also left Egypt camp

Abdel Moneim’s departure follows that of Salah, who left the Egypt camp after the goalless draw against Angola.

The Egyptian Football Association said Salah would miss the qualifier against South Sudan because the match was due to be played on a tartan pitch.

Salah was substituted during the second half against Angola before subsequently leaving the squad.

Abdel Moneim’s situation has, however, generated additional discussion because Nice announced his departure while the Egyptian Football Association had not issued a separate clarification at the time of the report.

Reports of tension between Abdel Moneim and Egypt staff

Egyptian media personality Ahmed Shobeir has claimed that there is dissatisfaction between Abdel Moneim and members of the national team’s technical and administrative staff.

Speaking on radio, Shobeir said: “Mohamed Abdel Moneim will also not be present in the South Africa match (next Sunday), and very clearly there is a great deal of anger and resentment between Mohamed Abdel Moneim and the technical and administrative staff.”

He added: “I hope the issue between the national team’s coaching staff and Abdel Moneim ends early, instead of escalating significantly, because they are upset with him and they have the right to be.”

Shobeir further said: “I am not being unfair to any player, but the coaching staff has the right to be angry with Mohamed Abdel Moneim, and I hope the player will take the initiative to end the dispute and anger because we need him and all the players in the national team.”

The reported disagreement is understood to have followed Abdel Moneim’s reluctance to play in the South Sudan qualifier, with Nice also sending a letter requesting that he be excluded from the match.

His subsequent departure from the camp came after discussions between the club and Egypt’s technical staff, leaving the national team with another player unavailable during the current international window.