Egypt’s football organization said on Sunday that Mohamed Salah will withdraw from the Africa Cup of Nations team in order to continue receiving treatment at his club, Liverpool, for a hamstring injury. Despite this, they hope to see Salah back at the competition in Ivory Coast.
Following his statement that it “makes sense” for the 31-year-old to have treatment in England, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp made the news.
Salah has already been ruled out of the Pharaohs’ final-16 encounter, should they advance, and Monday’s pivotal Group B meeting against Cape Verde in Abidjan.
Although the Egyptian FA had hoped he would return for a potential quarterfinal, they now seem content to be without him until February 7, if that’s when the semi-final takes place.
If Salah can demonstrate his health while Egypt is still in the tournament, Klopp did leave the door open for him to return.
The record seven-time African champions must defeat Cape Verde to ensure their spot in the round of 16 after drawing their first two games in the competition.
In Egypt’s inaugural match, Salah saved a 2-2 draw against Mozambique from the penalty spot before hobbling off in the first half of the draw against Ghana.
The player’s newest unfortunate turn of events at the AFCON is his injury.
He has never taken home the trophy and has lost in the championship game twice, to Senegal two years ago and Cameroon in 2017.
Salah expressed his continued belief that he will be named the African champion “sooner or later” at a press conference on Sunday.
