Mohamed Salah played a key role as Egypt kicked off their AFCON campaign with a 2-1 victory.
Once again, Liverpool must cope without Salah due to his international commitments. However, this year’s absence may be easier for the team to manage.
The 33-year-old has not performed at his usual level this season. After a public dispute, his future with the club remains uncertain.
Now, Salah’s focus is solely on Egypt, where expectations run high. He is tasked with leading his team to their first AFCON title, and they have started well after defeating Zimbabwe.
The Liverpool star scored a late winner to secure the victory, but the Egyptian media highlighted his overall performance.
Media highlights Salah’s challenges despite late game-winner
Photo by Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images
Salah’s career achievements are undeniable. He has consistently been among the top scorers, both in the Premier League and globally.
However, this season, he seems to be losing form. His club performances have not met expectations, and this trend continued into Egypt’s AFCON opener.
The national media criticized him, noting that despite scoring the winner, he appeared off his game during much of the match.
Al Jazeera stated: “Salah faced scrutiny entering the tournament after a recent incident with the Premier League champions and struggled to find his form for most of the match.”
Similarly, Al-Ahram remarked: “The Liverpool forward was largely ineffective throughout the game but made a crucial impact at the end.”
Salah has often delivered in critical moments, but this season those instances have become rarer, drawing more attention to his struggles, which he does not seem to appreciate.
Salah’s next match for Egypt
With newfound confidence from his late goal, all eyes will be on Salah in his next match for Egypt.
That game is scheduled for Boxing Day against South Africa, who also won their tournament opener 2-1.
They will later face Angola, but if Egypt secures another victory beforehand, they may already secure their place in the next round.
Supporters back at Liverpool are eager for Salah’s return, especially with Alexander Isak’s recent injury. However, winning the trophy would also be a significant achievement for him—so there are positives to be found either way.
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