Salah rested by Egypt after El-Badry about-turn

Mohamed Salah of Egypt

Friday Oct 04, 2019. 12:00

Mo Salah will sit out Egypt’s international friendly with Botswana on October 14, adding fuel to the fire over his strained relationship with the country’s football association.

New coach Hossam El-Badry told reporters at the weekend that he had made Salah captain and was looking forward to working with him in camp, only to do an about-turn on Thursday and say the player will be rested.

While the game is of little consequence, it was a chance for Salah to learn the plans of El-Badry ahead of the November FIUFA window, where Egypt will start their qualification for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

For that reason. his absence is significant, and comes at a time when his relationship with the Egyptian Football Association is at an all-time low.

Salah removed any reference to playing for the national team from his active Twitter bio following The Pharaohs early exit from the recent Nations Cup finals they hosted.

The most delighted in the whole scenario will be Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, with Salah able to rest during what has been a hectic start to the new season for The Reds.

Klopp was already unhappy that another of his forwards, Sadio Mane, was travelling to Singapore for a friendly international with Brazil during the upcoming window.