Egypt Grant Ahmed Elmohamady Extension

Hull's Ahmed Elmohamady has been given permission to arrive late for Africa Cup of Nations duty with Egypt but a similar request from Stoke over Ramadan Sobhi has been denied.

Egypt's foreign-based players were ordered to arrive at their training camp on Tuesday in preparation for the tournament, which starts on January 14 in Gabon, but midfielder Elmohamady has been allowed to arrive late in order to play for Hull at The Hawthorns against West Brom. Stoke's request for winger Sobhi to delay his arrival so he could play in Tuesday's home game against Watford has been turned down, however.

Egypt's team director Ihab Leheta said “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 preparations for the 2017 African Nations Cup. We agreed with Hull City to delay the arrival of Elmohamady, but we refused Stoke City's request.”