Mo Salah out of World Cup qualifier game against Angola

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah will not be available for Egypt’s opening World Cup qualifier against Angola on Wednesday due to COVID-19 restrictions, coach Hossam El-Badry confirmed.

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) was hoping it could work out a solution with the UK government to have both available for the opening Group F clash in Cairo, but El-Badry will now have to do without them.

Premier League clubs agreed last week not to release players for international matches in countries that are placed on the UK’s red-list because they would have to quarantine for 10 days on their return to England.

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FIFA president Gianni Infantino asked UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to grant an exemption to the 60 players affected by the decision. Egypt is on the UK’s red-list

“We are hoping we could have Salah and Elneny available for the second game against Gabon,” El-Badry a news conference on Sunday.

Salah’s absence, in particular, leaves the 61-year-old coach without his most lethal weapon as Egypt kicks off their bid to qualify for the World Cup for a second consecutive time.

The 29-year-old is second in Egypt’s list of all-time top scorers with 45 goals, 31 goals behind iconic striker Hossam Hassan.

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The Pharaohs host Angola on Wednesday before meeting Gabon away from home four days later.

“We are dealing with tough circumstances because of the absences,” El-Badry added.

“But I’m confident we will be on top of our group come November and will qualify for the final round.”