Manchester City make major Omar Marmoush decision ahead of Egypt exit for AFCON

Officials at Manchester City have seemingly set out their firm stance when it comes to Omar Marmoush’s exit date for the upcoming African Cup of Nations.

Marmoush has featured prominently from the bench in recent weeks, making the timing of his departure particularly significant given the volume and importance of fixtures ahead. With City pushing across four competitions throughout December and January, ensuring maximum availability before releasing him has become a key priority.

Egypt, meanwhile, have begun accelerating their programme with an extended training camp and multiple warm-up games before the tournament. Their staff have sought to assemble the full squad as early as possible, but as with many Premier League clubs, negotiations over player availability have been complex.

Omar Marmoush’s situation has therefore become a focal point in discussions, and Manchester City appear determined to maintain control over his schedule for as long as permissible, with the stakes further enhanced by the prospect of losing Marmoush for a lengthy period.

Should Egypt reach the AFCON final, the forward may miss up to 10 Manchester City matches, including fixtures in the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup – a stretch that would notably test Pep Guardiola’s attacking depth.

But according to the information of the Manchester Evening News’ Simon Bajkowski, Manchester City do not plan to let Omar Marmoush play for Egypt in any warm-up games before the African Cup of Nations, keeping their forward for the next four club matches.

Egypt boss Hossam Hassan has called his players for a training camp this week before warm-up matches against Kuwait, UAE, and Jordan in the FIFA Arab Cup, then taking on Nigeria on December 14 in a friendly before starting AFCON on December 22 against Zimbabwe.

However, it is reported that City only want to release Marmoush for the tournament itself, letting the player leave for the Egypt camp after their Premier League game at Crystal Palace on December 14, keeping him involved against Fulham, Sunderland, and Real Madrid, too.

Manchester City’s positioning indicates a belief that retaining Marmoush for the next two weeks could prove vital amid a demanding run of fixtures. Guardiola has leaned on the forward’s versatility, and losing him earlier than necessary would place strain on his group.

Looking ahead, the club must now prepare for the reality of navigating much of the winter weeks without him. That may open the door for increased opportunities for other talents or for Guardiola to experiment with positional adjustments within the front line.

Much will also depend on Egypt’s progress at the tournament, which could determine whether Omar Marmoush returns soon after the group stage or remains absent until mid-January. While the immediate decision provides clarity for City’s December, the coming weeks promise further developments as AFCON approaches and Egypt assess their own preparations.