Egyptian players Mohamed Salah and Mohamed El-Neny touched down in Israel with their Swiss team FC Basel to play Maccabi Tel Aviv in the second leg of the third qualifying round of the European Champions League on Tuesday.

The Pharaohs' players asked the club to skip playing the game due to the political complications between Egypt and Israel, but the club rejected.

The Swiss champions recorded a narrow 1-0 win in Basel a week ago and coach Murat Yakin does not have the luxury of skipping two of his regular starters.

The issue has been a major subject in Swiss and Israeli media. "I am a professional player and I had to come here to play and win in the Champions League. I don't speak about politics in the media and if you heard something else it is not coming from me," the 21-year old winger told a press conference on Monday night.

Salah previously told local media that he considers himself going to "Palestine and not to Israel as they claim. I agreed with the board that I will pray in Al-Aqsa Mosque." He also added that he wants to help his teammates beat Maccabi Tel Aviv so "the occupant's flag won't be raised anymore in the competition."

Playing in Israel has long been a contentious issue in Egyptian football, with many arguing that it amounts to "normalising" ties with Israel. 

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