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Mohamed Salah speaks out for first time since suffering hamstring injury at the 2023 AFCON.
Liverpool fans received an unsettling update as Mohamed Salah spoke out for the first time since sustaining a hamstring injury during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. The incident occurred in Egypt’s 2-2 draw with Ghana, with Salah leaving the field just before halftime.
The Egyptian Football Association confirmed in a statement that while the 31-year-old did experience a hamstring strain, it is not as severe as initially feared. Salah will be sidelined for Egypt’s final group game against Cape Verde and, if they advance, the round-of-16 match. However, he is expected to recover in time for a potential quarter-final clash.
The extent of Salah’s absence depends on Egypt’s performance in the tournament without their captain and star player. The team has drawn both of their games 2-2 so far. A victory against Cape Verde will secure their spot in the knockout stage, but if they fall short, their progression will hinge on the outcome of the Ghana vs. Mozambique match.
Discussing his fitness ahead of the crucial game, Salah told reporters on Sunday: ‘My injury is still there but the most important thing now is to speak about the game.
‘We are very positive, we have great players and a great team, and we just need to fight and see what will happen.’
Egypt have not won the AFCON since 2010, but did reach the final in 2017 and 2021.
Salah added, ‘I would love to win it, absolutely. I have won everything possible but this one not yet.
‘It will happen somehow, that is what I believe, and whatever I believe I achieve, so sooner or later it will happen. Everybody knows what it means to any player to win an Africa Cup.
‘We were unlucky at the last one and also in Gabon. The players are very motivated to win the tournament. We all want to win it.
‘At the end of the day we are not doing great at the moment but we have a fantastic team and a great coach, so we just need to stay focused. I believe that with hard work everything is possible, so we just need to win one game to qualify and we go from there.’