Africa: Salah Delays Rehab to Support Egypt During Cape Verde Crunch At Cup of Nations

Egypt skipper Mohamed Salah will head back to English Premier League pacesetters Liverpool for treatment on his injured left leg after watching his Egypt teammates play their crucial Group B clash against Cape Verde on Monday night at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Salah, 31, was substituted during the first-half of his side’s game against Ghana on 18 January.

Without him Egypt twice came from behind to draw 2-2. The stalemate left them with two points from their two games and the seven-time champions will need to beat already qualified Cape Verde at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan to advance to the last-16 knockout stages.

Initial tests suggested that Salah could be operational should Egypt reach the quarter-finals.

But further examinations revealed he would be unlikely to be fit until the semi-finals on 7 February.

“It was decided that the player will return to England after the Cape Verde match to complete his treatment, with the hope that he will join the national team in the semi-final of the Africa Cup of Nations if we qualify,” said an Egyptian FA statement which was posted on Liverpool’s official club website.

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On Sunday as Egypt geared up for the crunch tie, Salah delivered a passionate rallying call to his team who have failed to ignite at the continent’s most prestigious national team tournament.

“Cape Verde have been doing well,” said Salah. “Their team is strong and they believe in themselves.

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