Mohamed Salah: Egypt teammates rally behind unsettled teammate before AFCON

Salah’s narration with Liverpool is strained, but the disgruntled prima volition beryllium welcomed by Egypt teammates for AFCON, opening December 21.

While the aboriginal of Mohamed Salah astatine Liverpool hangs successful the balance, Egypt teammates person rallied down the nationalist squad skipper up of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) successful Morocco.

The grounds seven-time continental champions are successful Group B with Angola, South Africa and Zimbabwe, and volition beryllium based successful the confederate coastal metropolis of Agadir passim the archetypal round.

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“Players similar him bash not get benched,” said striker Ahmed “Kouka” Hassan connected societal media, referring to Salah being a substitute successful the past 3 Liverpool fixtures, and coming connected lone once.

“If helium starts connected the bench, you indispensable marque definite helium is the archetypal to travel on, aft 60 minutes, 65 astatine the latest.

“Mo is not conscionable a teammate, helium is simply a leader, a fable for nine and country. Keep moving hard, brother, each concern successful beingness is temporary, moments similar this pass, what stays is your greatness.”

Head manager and erstwhile prima Hossam Hassan posted a photograph of himself and Salah and a message: “Always a awesome of perseverance and strength.”

“The top Liverpool fable of each time,” wrote winger Ahmed “Zizo” El Sayed. Goalkeeper Mohamed Sobhy called Salah “always the best”.

Liverpool person struggled successful their rubric defence this play and prevarication 10th aft 15 rounds, 10 points down leaders Arsenal. Salah has besides battled with conscionable 4 goals successful 13 top-flight appearances.

After doubly surrendering the pb successful a 3-3 gully astatine Leeds United past Saturday, Salah told reporters, “It seems similar the nine has thrown maine nether the bus”.

“I deliberation it is precise wide that idiosyncratic wanted maine to get each of the blasted (for the slump) … idiosyncratic does not privation maine successful the club.”

Salah was omitted from the squad that travelled to Milan for a Champions League clash with Inter connected Tuesday and has hinted that helium whitethorn not play for Liverpool again.

A instrumentality holds a emblem successful the stands dedicated to Salah during the UEFA Champions League necktie betwixt Inter Milan and Liverpool astatine San Siro Stadium connected December 9, 2025 successful Milan, Italy [Justin Setterfield/Getty Images]

‘Great feeling’

Saudi Arabia says it volition bash “whatever it can” to enlistee Salah during the mid-season transportation window, a Public Investment Fund (PIF) root successful the kingdom told AFP.

Although Egypt past won the AFCON 15 years agone successful Luanda, Salah, 33, believes they volition assistance the trophy again earlier helium retires.

“It volition hap – that is what I believe. It is simply a large feeling each clip you measurement connected the tract wearing the Egyptian colours.”

Salah has suffered overmuch heartbreak successful 4 AFCON tournaments arsenic Egypt doubly finished runners-up and doubly exited successful the circular of 16.

He created the extremity that enactment the Pharaohs up successful the 2017 final, but Cameroon clawed backmost to triumph 2-1 successful Libreville.

Hosts and rubric favourites Egypt were stunned by South Africa successful the archetypal knockout circular 2 years later, conceding a precocious extremity to suffer 1-0.

Egypt reached the last again successful 2022, lone to suffer connected penalties to Senegal aft 120 goalless minutes successful Yaounde.

In the Ivory Coast past year, Salah suffered a hamstring wounded against Ghana and took nary further portion successful the tournament. Egypt mislaid connected penalties to the Democratic Republic of the Congo successful a last-16 clash.

This year, Egypt boast an array of attacking endowment with Salah, Omar Marmoush from Manchester City, Mostafa Mohamed of Nantes and Mahmoud “Trezeguet” Hassan and Zizo from Cairo giants Al Ahly.

Group B is the lone 1 of the six successful Morocco featuring 2 qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, with Egypt and South Africa heading to the planetary showpiece successful North America.

South Africa exceeded expectations by finishing 3rd astatine the 2024 AFCON, but Belgian manager Hugo Broos expects a tougher run successful a tourney that kicks disconnected connected December 21.

“It volition beryllium harder due to the fact that each hostile volition beryllium much motivated to bushed america aft our bronze medals,” said the tactician who guided Cameroon to the 2017 AFCON title.

Angola and Zimbabwe precocious changed coaches, with France-born Patrice Beaumelle and Romanian Mario Marinica hired.

The Angolans person reached the quarterfinals 3 times, including past year, portion the Zimbabweans person ne'er gone beyond the archetypal round.

‘Players similar him bash not get benched’: Salah’s (#10) longtime Egyptian teammate Ahmed ‘Kouka’ Hassan (#18) is supporting his compatriot during his standoff with Liverpool aft the 33-year-old claimed connected Saturday that helium was being scapegoated for the club’s mediocre show successful caller weeks  [File: Javier Soriano/AFP]