Next week’s gala meeting between the UAE and Mohamed Salah’s Egypt appears in serious jeopardy after the North Africans “requested the postponement” until March because of scheduling issues.
The visit of the World Cup 2018 qualifiers to Abu Dhabi’s Al Nahyan Stadium on November 20 is viewed as an invaluable test before the Whites host January 2019’s Asian Cup, plus a chance to see several of the region’s leading football idols in action.
An official response from the UAE Football Association was yet to be made public to the statement published on the Egyptian Football Association’s Facebook page late on Sunday night.
It read: “The technical organ of the first national football team, led by [former Al Wahda boss] Javier Aguirre, has requested the postponement of the friendly between Egypt and the UAE, scheduled to take place on November 20, to March.
“This comes from the need of the foreign-based players to return to their clubs on November 21 and the return match between Al Wasl and Al Ahly in the Zayed Champions Cup. There is an appreciation for the UAE fans to see a match with all the stars of the Egypt team, including Mohamed Salah.”
Egypt were scheduled to land in the Emirates after Friday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tunisia.
Last November, a match between the UAE and Egypt was cancelled at Al Ain’s Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.
UAE coach Alberto Zaccheroni is currently holding the penultimate training camp before the Asian Cup. Friday’s friendly against Bolivia at Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium remains unaffected.
