Mohamed Salah seeks renewal with Egypt as AFCON nears amid Liverpool storm | OneFootball

Under scrutiny at Liverpool after a dip in form and a public outburst, Mohamed Salah seeks a reset with Egypt as the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco nears. The 33-year-old hopes this campaign ends his wait for a continental title sixteen years on.

His storm peaked on 6 December when he watched Liverpool’s 3-3 draw with Leeds from the bench and voiced his dismay, saying he had given so much, was benched without explanation and felt betrayed.

Egypt rallied instead. At the team hotel in Taghazout, near Agadir, he was greeted by musicians playing a lively dakka marrakchia. Team-mates and staff have indulged their star, and even coach Hossam Hassan, initially severe in early 2024, has been attentive.

Salah has twice fallen short at AFCON, a finalist in 2017, and again in 2022, losing the latter on penalties to Senegal after 0-0, 2-4. Despite club honours, including the Champions League in spring 2019, he has yet to lift a trophy Egypt have won seven times, with Hossam Hassan in the 1986, 1998 and 2006 sides.

He has seven AFCON goals and wants to move on from January 2024, when a hamstring injury took him back to Liverpool for treatment, a decision widely criticised in Egypt. Given the club context now, he would probably not make the same call.

Before departing, Salah addressed the dressing room. “Mo apologised to us and said, ‘If I have hurt anyone or offended you, I apologise,’” said Curtis Jones, speaking to Sky Sports.

Source: L'Équipe