Injured against Ghana, Mohamed Salah is unavailable for several matches, but will not forfeit the rest of the competition if the Pharaohs go far. Except that his choice to return to England for treatment does not happen at all in his country.
Injured in the thigh during the match between Egypt and Ghana (2-2), Mohamed Salah was forced to withdraw from the Pharaons' next matches. “X-rays undergone by Mohamed Salah, the captain of the Egyptian national team, revealed that he was suffering from a strained posterior muscle and that he will miss the team's next two matches in this AFCON against Cape Town. Green, then in 1/8th in case of qualification ,” indicated the Egyptian federation on January 19. A huge blow for the Reds striker and for his selection. But at a time when Egypt is playing its qualifier this evening against Cape Verde, leader of group B, Salah is facing big criticism in his country and especially on social networks where he is being reprimanded according to Goal.
Usually adored by an entire people, the attacker of the Pharaohs unleashes the anger of his people. The reason ? His choice to return to Liverpool to heal his injury. Questioned this weekend after his team's victory against Bournemouth (5-0), Jürgen Klopp had indeed confirmed the news. “If it’s already 100% decided? I don't know. But that's what's planned. Regardless of the duration of his absence, everyone sees him like that, it is logical that he does his rehabilitation with us or with our medical staff. I don't know if it's already set in stone. I would say that if Egypt qualifies for the final, if he is fit, then probably yes (that he will return to the selection, editor's note). Ivory Coast is a wonderful country, I'm sure, but we don't have anyone from home there and they have to look after the people who are playing, so we'll see.
Salah, yet another example of the complicated relationships between European clubs and the CAN
According to Klopp, the Pharaohs' medical staff could therefore not manage able-bodied players and the injured. A speech that does not pass muster in the countries of the pyramids. “We are always promised chaos. After Salah's injury, we were told the player would only miss two matches, and there was no precise diagnosis. We only knew he had strained his hamstring, a problem Klopp revealed. I am against the idea of Salah returning to England, while the details of the injury are not disclosed. We don't know its severity, but I trust the Egyptian national team doctor, and there is communication between him and the Liverpool doctor. Nobody knows what communications took place inside the camp, but I insist that Salah stays with the national team, and the national team doctor always takes all the devices with him during trips. Salah's decision to leave or stay is not his alone. It is a joint decision between the EFA (Egyptian federation, editor's note) and Liverpool. I think he should be dealt with by the national team because it gives a boost to the players. Jürgen Klopp's premature announcement upset people, and they have the right because Salah is now affiliated with the Egyptian Football Federation, and she is the one who makes decisions with the technical staff,” said the former assistant to the national team Diyaa El-Sayed.
A speech shared by several big local names. Starting with Hani Ramzy, the man with 124 caps with the Pharaons. “The Egyptian national team is more important than any player, and what happened was a shock to everyone with his decision to leave the team. I think the timing was bad. The decision was prepared in advance and was not taken into account, and it was not a coincidence ,” he said on DMC , imitated by Egyptian football legend Ahmed Hassan (184 caps). ) at the microphone of MBC Masr . “I have always supported Salah and was very happy with his presence at the press conference as captain of the Egyptian national team. I had no problem with what he said, but it turned out that he was preparing to leave the Egyptian camp. Salah is certainly an extraordinary player. He is the captain of the team and, just like the coach, the captain has a role to play on and off the field. Do the CAN regulations allow a player to leave the national team camp and return? He had the option of bringing someone from Liverpool's medical staff to accompany him during the competition. Once again, he is the captain. He would have to stay with the team no matter what, even if he only had one leg to stand on. He even said himself that it was the Egyptian national team, not Salah's national team, and that's true. We have confidence in all the players who are there and they must fight for the title. Liverpool say Salah can return if Egypt make the final, but why will he return if Egypt make the final, and why will they need him then? » Will Egypt be able to overcome this controversy?