Egyptian FA president makes contact with Manchester City over Omar Marmoush release for AFCON | OneFootball

Manchester City continue to face pressure from the Egyptian Football Association over the release date of Omar Marmoush for the upcoming African Cup of Nations.

The situation has escalated with national team manager Hossam Hassan accelerating Egypt’s preparations. City, like several clubs, are bracing for a demanding winter, and losing Marmoush earlier than expected could leave Pep Guardiola short of options for Premier League action.

Manchester City had anticipated a standard FIFA release timeline, but shifting plans from the Egyptian FA have prompted fresh negotiations. Relations between clubs and national teams often become tense ahead of major tournaments, particularly mid-season competitions.

This year is proving no different, with Premier League sides seeking clarity from FIFA to avoid releasing players weeks before the mandatory date. With Liverpool also involved due to Mohamed Salah’s participation, the issue is drawing considerable attention.

For City, Marmoush’s involvement at AFCON was expected, but the timing of his departure could determine squad depth during a congested December schedule. The club will be keen to keep the forward available for as many matches as possible before he links up with Egypt.

According to journalist Ismael Mahmoud, Egypt manager Hossam Hassan has now decided to start his side’s preparation camp for AFCON on December 1 instead of December 7.

It is explained that Hassan still wants both Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush available for a friendly match against Nigeria on December 14, with Egyptian Football Association president Hany Abou Rida personally in contact with both clubs.

However, both Liverpool and City – along with French side Nantes – are awaiting FIFA’s clarification on the final release date for their respective Egyptian players ahead of the AFCON tournament in December.

Looking ahead, City will hope FIFA provides definitive guidance, as uncertainty around player availability can complicate squad planning and tactical preparation, particularly for the clash against Crystal Palace on the same date of Egypt’s aforementioned friendly with Nigeria.

Should the governing body rule in favour of an earlier release, Pep Guardiola may need to adjust his forward line sooner than expected, potentially accelerating opportunities for other squad members.

If Egypt maintain their push for the December 1 camp, Manchester City may attempt to negotiate a compromise, allowing Omar Marmoush to remain available for domestic fixtures before joining the national team closer to the clash with Nigeria.

Much could depend on Egypt’s flexibility, and whether FIFA reinforces the standard mandatory release period. In the meantime, City fans will keep a close eye on developments, knowing Marmoush’s departure date could influence the club’s December hopes in terms of results.