AFCON 2023: Blow for Egypt as Mohamed Salah ruled out of two matches with hamstring injury
Mohamed Salah is set to miss out Egypt's crucial Africa Cup of Nations Group B clash against Cape Verde on Monday due to a hamstring injury.
The 31-year-old Liverpool forward, who also won't be available for a potential last-16 match if Egypt advances, exited the field before halftime during the 2-2 draw against Ghana on Thursday.
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Mo Salah will miss two games at the AFCON 2023 including their last group tie vs Cape Verde on Monday and the Round of 16 if Egypt 🇪🇬 progress. pic.twitter.com/RDkAl4m5KK
— Usher Komugisha (@UsherKomugisha) January 20, 2024
Egypt, the seven-time African champions, now find themselves in a must-win situation against Cape Verde to secure their advancement in the tournament following the drawn match.
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) confirmed Salah's hamstring injury through tests, stating that he will be sidelined for the next two matches at the Afcon.
“Mohamed Salah suffers a strain in his back muscle and will miss two matches in the African Nations. The x-rays that Mohamed Salah, the captain of the Egyptian national team, underwent, showed that he suffered a strain in the posterior muscle, and he will miss the team’s next two matches in the African Nations against Cape Verde, and then the round of 16 match in the event of qualification, “read a post on X by the Association.
🚨 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋: Mo Salah has picked up hamstring injury and will miss two games for Egypt 🇪🇬
— TIMO TIMO (The sports master) (@TimoSports8) January 20, 2024
“Egyptian Football Federation announces the injury of Mohamed Salah with a strain in the hamstring muscle”. pic.twitter.com/AwMYlygisa
Salah, who is nearing 100 caps for Egypt, will only make a return to the tournament if Egypt progresses to the quarter-final scheduled for February 2 or 3.
The absence of Salah, who played a crucial role in salvaging a draw against Mozambique with a last-minute penalty and contributed to overcoming deficits against Ghana, is a significant setback for Egypt.
The team has had a sluggish start to their Afcon campaign in the Ivory Coast, collecting two points from two matches. Egypt's last Cup of Nations title dates back to 2010, a year before Salah made his international debut.
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