CAIRO: Ahly have no intention of refusing to let Amir Sayoud play for Algeria’s Olympic team in two friendly games later this month, the club’s football director Hadi Khashaba said on Sunday.
Reports suggested that the Egyptian champions might insist on keeping hold of Sayoud when Algeria’s Olympic team face Tunisia in two matches on November 15 and 17.
Algeria coach Azzedine Aït Djoudi said earlier on Sunday that his side might lodge a complaint with world governing body FIFA if Ahly declined to release the 20-year-old.
"Sayoud will travel to Algeria following Ahly’s (Egyptian Premier League) game against Gouna on Tuesday," Khashaba told FilGoal.com.
"He will return to Cairo on November 18 when Algeria’s Olympic team play their two friendly matches."
Sayoud made his first competitive appearance this season when he came on as a second-half substitute in Ahly’s last-gasp 3-2 victory over ENPPI in the Egyptian Premier League on Thursday.
He has been confined to the bench since joining the Red Devils in the summer of 2009 but coach Hossam Al-Badri said he would rely more on him following the team’s African Champions League elimination at the hands of Tunisia’s Esperance in the semi finals.
Sayoud showed glimpses of his talent during several friendly games, where his neat footwork and dribbling skills caught the eyes of Ahly’s demanding supporters.
FIFA obliged clubs to release their U-23 players for the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 but it is not clear whether such statute applies to friendly or qualifying matches.
When Algeria’s Olympic team face Tunisia in two friendlies, the Egyptian league will be taking a break as the national team play Australia in an exhibition on November 17.
