CAIRO: Liverpool star Mohamed Salah "must rest" and will miss Egypt's friendly against Botswana on October 14, national team coach Hossam El Badry said Thursday.
The announcement came days after Salah raised eyebrows by changing his Twitter bio to say he only played for Liverpool, removing any mention of his affiliation to Egypt.
Salah finished fourth in the balloting for the FIFA best player award last week, with two of Egypt's votes rejected by football's governing body after they were signed in capital letters.
El Badry said he spoke to Salah following a report from the national team doctor on the fitness of the squad's overseas-based players.
"I agreed with him that it is in his best interests and those of the national team that he rests," El Badry told local channel MBC Masr.
"He won't be with us at the training camp for Botswana, but God willing, he will be with us for the official matches."
Salah scored twice on Wednesday as holders Liverpool defeated Salzburg 4-3 at home in the Champions League group stage.
Salah and the Egyptian FA have butted heads before several times, most prominently when a photo of him was plastered on the squad's plane ahead of the 2018 World Cup, causing sponsorship problems for the star.
El Badry will take charge of his first match as Egypt coach against Botswana following his appointment last month.
Egypt begin their qualifying campaign for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations at home to Kenya in November.
Mo Salah ‘must rest’, says Egypt coach
Mo Salah ‘must rest’, says Egypt coach
- Salah scored twice on Wednesday as holders Liverpool defeated Salzburg 4-3 at home in the Champions League group stage
- Egypt begin their qualifying campaign for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations at home to Kenya in November
Carrick relishing Frank reunion as Man Utd host Spurs
- Carrick has enjoyed a perfect start to life as interim United boss
- Frank remains under intense pressure in his first season at Spurs
LONDON: Michael Carrick will go head to head with Thomas Frank just months after interviewing the Tottenham manager for television as Manchester United seek a fourth successive Premier League win on Saturday.
Former Spurs, United and England midfielder Carrick has enjoyed a perfect start to life as interim United boss — beating Manchester City, Premier League leaders Arsenal and Fulham.
Next in line for United are Spurs, 14th in the table after a miserable Premier League season so far.
Carrick, who replaced the sacked Ruben Amorim last month, interviewed Frank ahead of the Dane’s first Champions League game in charge of Tottenham.
“(Life) certainly can change,” said Carrick as he reflected on the Amazon Prime interview in September. “I really enjoyed it, actually.
“We got on really well. It’s the first time I’ve met him properly and we had a good chat just about general kind of football things... I enjoyed it, so it will be good to see him again.”
Former Brentford boss Frank remains under intense pressure in his first season at Spurs despite their impressive Champions League campaign and a recent uptick in results.
Last week’s 2-2 draw at home to City extended their unbeaten run to four matches.
“They certainly bring a challenge,” Carrick said. “I think you can see especially the way they finished the game the other day.
“They’ve had players injured and ins and outs, and a lot of changes to the team, which makes things a lot more challenging, a lot more difficult from their perspective. But they’re getting players back.”
Tottenham won all four of their meetings against United last season, including May’s Europa League final in Bilbao.
Carrick hopes to end that run against a club at which he spent two seasons before moving to Old Trafford in 2006.
“Coming here (United) was a jump and a big jump at the time,” he said. I certainly felt that pretty quickly and then I think once you step inside this place as a footballer, it turns you.
“So, pretty much from the first day walking into the dressing room and meeting the manager, from then on in that was me.”
