Mohamed Salah is set to miss at least the next two matches for Egypt after suffering an injury during their Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
The grim fitness news was confirmed by the Egypt FA, who released a social media update that read: ” Mohamed Salah suffers a strain in his back muscle and will miss two matches in the African Nations”.
“The x-rays that Mohamed Salah, the captain of the Egyptian national team, underwent, showed that he suffered a strain in the posterior muscle. He will therefore miss the team’s next two matches in the African Nations against Cape Verde, and then the round of 16 match in the event of qualification.”
Egypt currently sit second in their group and as the statement explains, there is no guarantee that Salah’s side will progress to the knockout rounds of the competition. It has been a drastically underwhelming tournament so far that has seen them draw both of their opening games.
Salah had to spare Egypt’s blushes in their first game against 111th ranked outfit Mozambique, who were winning 2-1 until the 97th minute of the game. They were minutes away from one of AFCON’s biggest ever shocks, until the Liverpool forward stepped up from the penalty spot to equalise right at the death.
Salah sustained the injury during the 2-2 draw with Ghana in game two, after which Egypt manager Rui Vitoria was hopeful regarding his star striker’s fitness. He explained: “We don’t know yet what is the problem.