Why is Mohamed Salah Not Playing for Egypt vs Nigeria Friendly Tonight?

Egyptian superstar Mohamed Salah will miss Egypt's friendly match against Nigeria at the Cairo International Stadium on December 16. With many passionate followers of the player wondering, Is Mohamed Salah playing today in this pre-AFCON fixture? The answer is no. The forward was set to join the national team's camp on December 15; however, Liverpool manager Arne Slot pulled the late arrival to balance the interests of both the club and country ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

When Will Mohamed Salah Join Egypt?

The Egypt vs Nigeria friendly serves as both teams' final preparation before the start of the AFCON 2025 in Morocco. However, due to FIFA regulations that allow clubs to retain players until December 15, Liverpool secured an extra day with Salah to manage his fitness and workload before international commitments.

Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan is expected to build the Pharaohs' tournament campaign around the Liverpool winger, who is still searching for his first AFCON title despite a notable career. Is Mohamed Salah playing for Egypt against Nigeria? No, as we already mentioned before, the 33-year-old winger had to stay in England with the Liverpool squad to manage his workload. Salah's late arrival reflects a strategic decision prioritizing his preparation for AFCON while maintaining Liverpool's competitive schedule. The Egypt National Football Team faces Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Angola in Group B, with matches scheduled for December 22, 26, and 29, respectively.