Egypt's national football team has agreed with Hull City to delay the return of midfielder Ahmed Elmohamady ahead of the 2017 African Cup of Nations (CAN) camp, but Egypt has asked Stoke winger Ramadan Sobhi to be sent back on time for training, team director Ihab Leheta announced on Friday.
"Yes, we received requests from Stoke City and Hull City asking to delay the arrival of Ramadan Sobhi and Ahmed Elmohamady respectively to join the national team camp to start preperations for the 2017 African Cup of Nations," Leheta told reporters on Friday.
"We agreed with Hull City to delay the arrival of Elmohamady, but we refused Stoke City's request," he said.
Late on Thursday, Stoke City manager Mark Hughes said he was doing his best to keep Egypt winger Ramadan Sobhi for the team's first game in 2017 against Watford, rather than allowing him to head back sooner for CAN preparations.
"The Egyptian national team will start preparatory camp on 1 January, with all foreign-based players there on 3 January," Leheta said.
Egypt is set to face Tunisia in a friendly at Cairo International Stadium on 8 January.
The Pharaohs are due to take on Ghana, Mali and Uganda in Group D, which will be played in Gabon from 14 January to 5 February.
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