Mohamed Salah is set to leave the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and return to Liverpool for rehabilitation on his hamstring injury. The decision comes after Egypt’s group fixtures, with their final game against Cape Verde Islands scheduled for Monday in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp had hinted at this course of action following their 4-0 Premier League victory over Bournemouth on Sunday.
The Egypt Football Association (EFA) confirmed Salah’s return to Liverpool for treatment, but they remain hopeful that he might be available for the later stages of the AFCON, stating in a press release, “We are hoping to catch him in the semifinals of the Africa Nations Cup in case of qualification.
Salah sustained the injury during Egypt’s match against Ghana on Thursday, and the duration of his recovery remains uncertain. Klopp expressed his expectation that Salah would undergo rehabilitation with Liverpool’s medical staff, stating, “That’s the plan. However long he is out, it probably makes sense for everybody to [rehab] with us [in Liverpool] or with our people.”
Despite Salah’s absence, Liverpool secured a convincing 4-0 victory against Bournemouth, extending their lead at the top of the Premier League by five points. Klopp praised the performances of Darwin Núñez and Diogo Jota, who each scored two goals in the second half. He also commended the controlled display by Alexis Mac Allister in midfield and highlighted Conor Bradley’s impressive Premier League debut at right-back.
Regarding Salah’s potential return to AFCON, Klopp emphasized that it would depend on Egypt’s progress in the tournament, stating, “I’m not a doctor. I would say if Egypt qualifies for the final then probably yes.” Despite the uncertainty surrounding Salah’s injury, he expressed his commitment, saying, “I am happy to be here, my injury is still there but the most important thing is to speak about the game.”
