Egypt forward ruled out until Africa Cup of Nations semi-final stage
\nLIVERPOOL
\nMohamed Salah will leave the Egypt squad at the Africa Cup of Nations to continue treatment on a hamstring injury at his club Liverpool, the country\u2019s football association said on Sunday, but they hope he will return to the tournament in Ivory Coast.
\n\u201cSalah will attend (Monday\u2019s) game against Cape Verde and then will travel to the UK,\u201d the Egyptian Football Association said.
\n\u201cAfter communication between the Egyptian medical staff and their Liverpool counterparts, we have agreed that the player will return to the UK to continue his treatment, hoping to return to the Egypt team for the semi-finals.\u201d
\nThe announcement comes after Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said it \u201cmakes sense\u201d for the 31-year-old to undergo treatment in England.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s the plan,\u201d Klopp said after Liverpool\u2019s 4-0 victory away to Bournemouth on Sunday when asked if Salah would now return to Merseyside.
\n\u201cIf that\u2019s already decided 100 per cent, I don\u2019t know. But that\u2019s the plan. I think probably everybody sees it makes sense that he\u2019s doing the rehab with us or with our people.\u201d
\nSalah had already been ruled out of the Pharaohs\u2019 crucial Group B clash against Cape Verde in Abidjan on Monday and Egpyt\u2019s last-16 match should they progress.
\nThe Egyptian FA had initially hoped he would be back for an eventual quarter-final, but now appear resigned to being without him until a possible semi-final on February 7.
\nKlopp did leave the door open for Salah to return to the tournament should he prove his fitness while Egypt are still alive.
\n\u201cIf Egypt qualifies for the final and he is fit before the final, then probably yes,\u201d added Klopp. \u201cWhy not? That\u2019s clear.\u201d
\nAfter drawing their opening two games at the tournament, the record seven-time African champions need to beat already-qualified Cape Verde just to be guaranteed of qualifying for the last 16.
\nSalah salvaged a 2-2 draw with Mozambique from the penalty spot in Egypt\u2019s opening game before limping off in the first half of the stalemate against Ghana.
\nHis injury is the latest cruel twist of fate for the player at the AFCON.
\nHe has never won the trophy and twice fallen short in the final, to Cameroon in 2017 and Senegal two years ago.
\nSalah told a press conference on Sunday he remains convinced he will be crowned champion of Africa \u201csooner or later\u201d.
\n\u201cI have won everything possible but this one not yet,\u201d said the two-time African footballer of the year.
\n\u201cIt will happen somehow, that is what I believe, and whatever I believe I achieve, so sooner or later it will happen.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Egypt forward ruled out until Africa Cup of Nations semi-final stage LIVERPOOL Mohamed Salah will leave the Egypt squad at the Africa Cup of Nations to continue treatment on a hamstring injury at his club Liverpool, the country\u2019s football association said on Sunday, but they hope he will return to the tournament in Ivory Coast. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-382497","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n