Egyptian national team player Mohamed Abdel Monem, who plays for French club Nice, has left the team's camp ahead of a friendly match against South Africa. The decision was made by mutual agreement between Abdel Monem, the team's technical and medical staff, and his club. This comes after concerns were raised about the condition of the pitch, which is artificial, and the risk of injury to Abdel Monem.
Abdel Monem had previously undergone a cruciate ligament surgery and received medical warnings about playing on artificial turf. According to Ibrahim Hassan, the team's staff had decided to exclude Abdel Monem from the squad that traveled to South Sudan for a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match due to these concerns. The match ended with a 5-0 win for Egypt.
In a statement, French club Nice said that they are working to ensure that Abdel Monem, like all their international players, can join the national team and represent Egypt in the best possible conditions. The club emphasized their commitment to prioritizing the health, recovery, and physical safety of their players. Abdel Monem will now resume training with Nice.
A source within the Egyptian national team revealed that there is discontent among the coaching staff towards Abdel Monem due to his behavior before the match against South Sudan. This reportedly led to his exclusion from the friendly match against South Africa. The coaching staff had initially wanted Abdel Monem to join the squad for the South Sudan match, but he refused and returned to his club.
Nice had sent a medical report recommending that Abdel Monem be exempt from playing on artificial turf to avoid re-injury. While the Egyptian team understood this, Abdel Monem's refusal to join the squad for the South Sudan match caused frustration among the coaching staff. This ultimately led to his exclusion from the South Africa friendly.
The Egyptian national team is set to face South Africa in a friendly match on October 4 at the Cairo International Stadium. The match is scheduled to kick off at 9 pm local time. The team's coaching staff is reportedly still dealing with the aftermath of Abdel Monem's departure and its implications for the team's preparations.
The incident has raised questions about Abdel Monem's commitment to the national team and the communication between the team and his club. The Egyptian Football Association has not made an official statement on the matter. Abdel Monem's absence from the friendly match against South Africa has sparked debate among fans and pundits.
Key points
- Mohamed Abdel Monem leaves Egyptian national team camp due to concerns over artificial turf and risk of injury.
- Abdel Monem's departure causes frustration among coaching staff due to his behavior before the South Sudan match.
- Egypt faces South Africa in a friendly match on October 4 at the Cairo International Stadium.
