Mohamed Salah’s AFCON is officially over as the Liverpool star has suffered a “proper hamstring tear” during Egypt duty.
The 31-year-old got a muscular injury during Egypt’s Africa Cup of Nations encounter against Ghana, which finished 2-2. Salah’s injury was more serious than anticipated, and he is scheduled to undertake an extensive rehabilitation programme when he returns to Liverpool on Wednesday. He is unlikely to appear again in this round of the continental championship, even if Egypt advances to the finals, as he may require a month to regain full fitness.
WHAT PEP LIJNDERS SAID
Liverpool’s assistant manager, Pep Lijnders, informed reporters: “(A) proper tear in his hamstring. It’s expected [he will] return in three to four weeks if everything goes smoothly. It will go smoothly and it will go right because of how we’ve treated his body before.
“I always said before what I’m really happy about is the medical team of Egypt and the medical team of Liverpool really worked together and were in close contact and both made this decision. It’s an example of how international football and club football should operate to put the player in the centre.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Egypt’s record appearance-maker, Ahmed Hassan, questioned Salah’s commitment to his nation after he decided to leave the national camp and insisted that the forward should have stayed beside his team-mates “even if he only had one leg to stand on”. However, Lijnders sternly asserted that Salah was heading back to receive the best treatment possible and had no intention to desert his compatriots.
“The one you should never doubt the commitment of is Mo Salah,” said Lijnders.
“I know the country is devastated to lose him. He is massive. The only reason ours and their medical team decided for him to come back is to give the best chance to make the final if Egypt reach it.”
DID YOU KNOW?
Salah is yet to win the AFCON with Egypt as the most recent victory of the Pharaohs came in 2010, a year before the forward made his international debut. He came agonisingly close to lifting the trophy in 2021 but lost to Senegal in tie-breakers in the final.
WHAT NEXT?
Salah will have to watch from the stands when Liverpool face Fulham and Norwich City in the EFL Cup and FA Cup, respectively. But it will be a major blow to the Reds when they have to host Chelsea and take on Arsenal at Emirates in February in the Premier League. If Salah recovers on schedule he might be back in action against Brentford on February 17 or a week later against Luton Town at Anfield.
