Egypt FA seek Premier League clearance for Salah, Marmoush for Nigeria test

By Oluwadamilola Olaleye

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has initiated efforts to secure the early release of Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush from their Premier League clubs ahead of a planned friendly against Nigeria as both teams prepare for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

EFA president Hani Abu Rida is directly overseeing Egypt’s build-up as the Pharaohs chase a record-extending eighth continental crown when AFCON kicks off in Morocco on December 21.

However, while Egypt push for full squad availability, Nigeria may be forced to field a depleted team for the friendly due to domestic commitments in England.

Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, and Calvin Bassey are expected to feature for Fulham against Burnley on December 13, the same day Tolu Arokodare’s Wolves visit Arsenal.

Frank Onyeka is also unlikely to join up with Nigeria early, with Brentford hosting Leeds United on December 14.

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan has tasked Abu Rida with handling all international release negotiations, and the EFA has contacted Liverpool and Manchester City regarding Salah and Marmoush. According to multiple reports, no formal responses have yet been received from either club.

The main sticking point remains whether both players will be available for the friendly, scheduled for Sunday, December 14, just days before the tournament begins. Liverpool host Brighton on December 13, while Manchester City face Crystal Palace on December 14, directly clashing with the proposed fixture window.

Earlier reports from The Daily Mail suggested both Salah and Marmoush may prefer to participate in their clubs’ Premier League matches before joining the Egypt squad, which opens its AFCON campaign against Zimbabwe on December 22.

Egypt continue to push for early reinforcements as both sides attempt to finalize their pre-tournament logistics.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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