Late Mo Salah winner lifts Egypt toward AFCON redemption

It’s an utterly overwhelming haul. But for all of Salah’s silverware, one trophy has eluded him for his entire career: AFCON. He’s won just about everything, but he certainly hasn’t won this.

Salah can’t win AFCON on his own, of course; he needs his Egypt side to back him up through four weeks of grueling play. Historically, it’s struggled to do that. Salah carried Egypt through several AFCONs only to be let down by his teammates at the final hurdle. In 2021, that letdown was heartbreakingly literal: his teammates, strung out after an exhausting 0-0 draw with Senegal in the championship match, blew their penalty kicks to hand the title to their opponent. Salah was set to kick last for Egypt; his country was dead and buried long before he got the chance.

2025, then, is Salah and Egypt's last realistic chance to break their run of poor luck and bring home the AFCON prize. It's a heavy challenge, but one both parties seem keen to manage.

A time of crisis

Salah's AFCON push with Egypt comes hot on the heels of his spectacular flame-out with his club team, Liverpool. After a frustrating season of disappointing form, Salah found himself benched by Liverpool coach Arne Slot—and that didn't sit right with him.

"I have done so much for this club down the years and especially last season. Now I’m sitting on the bench and I don’t know why," Salah told the media after his third straight Liverpool game on the bench. “It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus.

"I don’t have to go every day fighting for my position because I earned it. People will say, ‘Ah you’re not bigger…’ I am not bigger than anyone, but I earned my position."

Salah's outburst ostracized him at Liverpool and opened up questions about his future with the club. He'll miss a full month of Premier League play while on AFCON duty with Egypt and will return in the middle of the January transfer window. A strong performance from Salah in AFCON will give him control over any potential contract discussions that occur at that time; a poor one could see him lose crucial leverage as he discusses his future.

Egypt will return to AFCON action on Friday, Dec. 26, against South Africa.