Egyptian football superstar Mohamed Salah, renowned for his serial medal-winning feats with Liverpool, is once again on the cusp of adding a new chapter to his illustrious career. Despite having collected trophies across domestic and international competitions—including the Premier League, Champions League, Super Cup, and Club World Cup—the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) medal remains a notable missing piece in his glittering collection.
Salah has endured heartache on multiple occasions at AFCON. In 2017, he set up Egypt’s opening goal in the final against Cameroon, only for the hosts to suffer a late defeat. Two years later, Egypt, again favorites, were stunned by a last-16 loss to South Africa. The 2022 edition saw Salah reach the final in Cameroon, but after 120 goalless minutes against Senegal, Egypt fell short in a penalty shootout. In the Ivory Coast last year, Salah scored a late penalty to rescue a draw against Mozambique but was injured in the following match against Ghana, sidelining him as Egypt exited in the round of 16 via penalties against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Now 33, Salah remains undeterred. “I am confident that one day I will be part of an Egyptian team that wins the Africa Cup of Nations,” he has repeatedly stated. Egypt enters the 2025 AFCON in Morocco as a strong contender, though increased competition across the continent means they are no longer the automatic favorites. Their Group B campaign begins against Zimbabwe on December 22, followed by matches against South Africa and Angola.
Head coach Hossam Hassan, an AFCON gold medallist himself, boasts an array of attacking options alongside Salah, including Omar Marmoush, Mostafa Mohamed, and Al Ahly stars Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan and Ahmed ‘Zizo’ El Sayed. Yet concerns linger over veteran goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy’s form, as errors in recent performances have raised questions about defensive reliability.
Salah arrives in Agadir after recent turbulence at Liverpool, where he publicly expressed frustration over being sidelined for three consecutive matches. Amid speculation of a potential move to the Saudi Pro League in January, Salah remains committed to both club and country. At Liverpool, he recently assisted Hugo Ekitike, surpassing Wayne Rooney for the most goal involvements for a single club in Premier League history, reaching 277.
For Salah, the 2025 AFCON is more than just another tournament—it represents a fifth opportunity to claim the elusive medal that has so far escaped him, and a chance to shine on Africa’s biggest stage while regaining his signature scoring form.
