At the Liverpool FC Mo Salah was recently sidelined. Things are completely different for the Egyptian at the Africa Cup. There is a great chance for revenge against Senegal in the semi-finals.
When Mo Salah scored a goal last Saturday, the 1.75 meter tall Egyptian was full of joy. The striker jumped into the arms of his rushing colleagues from the Egyptian national team – it was pure joy to see his relaxed laughter. The 33-year-old Liverpool FC striker scored shortly after half-time in the quarter-final game of the Africa Cup to make it 3-1 against Ivory Coast. A good half hour later it was done: the defending champions were defeated 3-2 and Mo Salah and Egypt were in the semi-finals of the competition. Where we face Senegal on Wednesday (January 14, 2025).
Salah and his laughter. We know it from the past, especially in the Liverpool FC jersey. In his better times in the north of England, when Jürgen Klopp was still coach at the “Reds” was and Salah, along with colleagues like Sadio Mané and Roberto Firmino, dizzyed the opponents in attack. That was almost ten years ago – Salah’s smile in the club jersey has become rare lately. The low point: the Egyptian was no longer included in November and ended up on the substitutes’ bench in Liverpool.
His smile is back: Mohamed Salah hugs Ramy Rabia after his goal in the quarter-finals.
Salah for Egypt – none Success story
The Africa Cup was probably just right for him, the continental tournament that is downright sacred to African players. Winning the Cup with your colleagues – it is the dream of every African national player. Egypt has already done this seven times. Alone: The title has passed Salah every time so far. When he made his debut for Egypt in 2011, the national team’s great days were just over.
At home there was a political crisis during the Arab Spring, which also led the “Pharaohs”, as the team is called, into a performance trough. As a result of political protests and a stadium disaster in Port Said in 2012, the Egyptian league was suspended. The national team failed to qualify for the 2012, 2013 and 2015 cups. It wasn’t until 2017 in Gabon that Salah and Co. were there and actually made it to the final. There, however, there was a 1-2 defeat against Cameroon. The team was even closer in 2022 when they went to penalties in the final against Senegal after a 0-0 draw after extra time. Mané scored the decisive 4-2 for Senegal. Salah, as the last Egyptian shooter, was no longer allowed to compete.
Sadio Mané comforts Mo Salah (then both at Liverpool) after the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations final.
Again and again Senegal…
The team will now also meet Senegal in Morocco. A close match between two equal teams is expected. For Salah it is the chance to take revenge for another personal low. In the 2022 World Cup qualification, a few months after the final defeat of the Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt met Senegal again. Again, after two games that ended 1-0, the game went to penalties. This time Salah went first – and missed. Egypt lost again.
It is these experiences that have stuck with Salah in the national team. He never seemed really happy in the “Pharaohs” jersey. While he darted lightly and cleverly across the pitch for Liverpool FC, it felt like heavy weight was hanging on his feet in the matches with Egypt. The expectations of fans, politicians, an entire nation – they seemed to crush him.
Suddenly the great chance for the cup
And now, of all times, as Salah’s career is coming to an end, there is suddenly a huge opportunity to win the Africa Cup that he has longed for. After the crisis in Liverpool, Salah went to the national team in a truly defiant manner – in Morocco he apparently wanted to show all his critics again. Egypt, who were at best one of the secret favorites with a seemingly over-aged team, played solidly through the preliminary round, but made significant gains when they entered the knockout phase.
In 2022, Salah narrowly failed in the final with Egypt – will he win the title this year?
In the round of 16, outsiders Benin were clearly defeated 3-1, and in the quarterfinals against defending champions Ivory Coast, the team played as outsiders. But the Ivorians probably couldn’t believe their eyes at the resistance the “Pharaohs” offered them. Egypt competed courageously, explosively and with astonishing intensity.
Defending champion Ivory Coast bowled out
At the end of 90 thrilling minutes there was a deserved 3-2 win for captain Salah and Co. The defending champions were eliminated and Salah had perhaps played the best game ever in the national jersey. He ran up and down the Agadir lawn as if unleashed throughout the entire season. Annoyed the Ivorians with offensive dribbling and was the first defensive player to throw himself into every duel when the opponent had the ball. The “King of the Pharaohs” had actually never seen anything like this before.
Salah’s joy after the coup was as infectious as it was honest. It’s now once again against Sadio Mané and Senegal in the semi-finals of the tournament. Like so many times. It will be tight again on the pitch. And maybe there will be an extension again. Back to the penalty shootout. It’s Salah’s big chance to get revenge. And then maybe finally win the Africa Cup.