Mohamed Salah is set to depart the Egypt squad at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to continue treatment on a hamstring injury with his club, Liverpool. The Egyptian Football Association confirmed the decision, expressing hope for Salah's return to the tournament during the semi-finals in Ivory Coast.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp endorsed the move, stating that it "makes sense" for the 31-year-old forward to undergo rehabilitation in England. Klopp, after Liverpool's 4-0 victory against Bournemouth, acknowledged the plan to have Salah's rehab conducted with Liverpool's medical team.
Salah had already been ruled out of Egypt's crucial Group B clash against Cape Verde and the last-16 match, should Egypt progress. While initially hopeful for a return in a potential quarter-final, the Egyptian FA now appears resigned to Salah's absence until a possible semi-final on February 7.
Klopp, however, left the door open for Salah's return to the tournament if he proves his fitness while Egypt is still in contention. The forward's injury, suffered during the stalemate against Ghana, adds another layer of disappointment to Salah's AFCON history, where he has twice fallen short in the final.
Salah, a two-time African footballer of the year, remains optimistic about his AFCON aspirations, expressing his belief that he will be crowned champion "sooner or later." Despite the setback, Egypt faces a crucial Group B clash against Cape Verde, needing a victory to secure qualification for the last 16 after drawing their opening two games in the tournament.
