Egyptian Stars Send Messages of Support to Mohamed Salah Ahead of the African Tournament

The stars of the Egyptian national football team expressed their support and affection for their teammate Mohamed Salah ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations, standing by him following recent developments with his club, English side Liverpool.

While Mohamed Salah's future with Liverpool remains uncertain, his teammates in the Egyptian national team rallied around their captain ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The record holders with seven continental titles are placed in Group B alongside Angola, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, and will play the group stage in the coastal city of Agadir in the south of the country.

Striker Ahmed Hassan "Koka" said on social media, referring to Salah sitting on the bench in Liverpool's last three matches and playing only once: "Players like him are not meant to be on the bench."

He added, "If he starts on the bench, he should be the first to come on after 60 minutes, 65 at most. +Mo+ (Salah's nickname) is not just a teammate, he is a leader, a legend for the club and the national team. Keep working hard, brother, every situation in life is temporary, these moments pass, and what remains is your greatness."

Former Pharaohs coach and top scorer Hossam Hassan posted a photo with Salah, commenting: "Always a symbol of determination and strength."

Winger Ahmed El-Sayed "Zizo" wrote: "The greatest legend in Liverpool's history," while goalkeeper Mohamed Sobhi described him as "always the best."

Liverpool is struggling to defend its title this season, currently sitting tenth after 15 rounds, 10 points behind leaders Arsenal.

Similarly, Salah is facing difficulties, having scored only four goals in 13 league matches. After a 3-3 draw against Leeds United last Saturday despite taking the lead twice, Salah told reporters: "It seems the club threw me under the bus."

He added, "I think it's very clear, there are those who wanted me to take all the blame (for the decline)... There are those who don't want me at the club."

Salah, who was excluded from the Liverpool squad that traveled to Milan to face Inter (1-0) in the sixth round of the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, hinted that he might not play for Liverpool again.

Saudi Arabia confirmed it will do "everything possible" to sign Salah during the winter transfer window, according to a source from the Public Investment Fund who spoke to AFP.

Although Egypt has not won the continental title in 15 years since the tournament in the Angolan capital Luanda, Salah (33 years old) believes the Pharaohs will lift the trophy again before he retires.

He said, "It will happen, that's what I believe. It's a great feeling every time you play wearing Egypt's colors."

Salah has experienced many disappointments in four previous editions of the tournament, with Egypt finishing runners-up twice and exiting twice in the round of 16.

In the 2017 final, Salah assisted the opening goal, but Cameroon came back to win 2-1 in the Gabonese capital Libreville.

In the 2019 edition, host and title favorite Egypt was shocked by a last-minute 0-1 loss to South Africa in the second round.

In 2022, Egypt reached the final again but lost on penalties to Senegal after 120 goalless minutes in the Cameroonian capital Yaoundé.

In last year's edition in Ivory Coast, Salah suffered a hamstring injury against Ghana and could not complete the tournament, before Egypt lost on penalties to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the round of 16.

This year, Egypt boasts an attacking arsenal led by Salah, Manchester City striker Omar Marmoush, French club Nantes forward Mostafa Mohamed, in addition to Al Ahly stars Mahmoud Hassan "Trezeguet" and Zizo.

Group B is the only group among the six in the continental tournament in Morocco to include two teams qualified for the 2026 World Cup, Egypt and South Africa.

South Africa defied expectations by finishing third in the 2024 edition in Ivory Coast after eliminating Morocco in the round of 16, but their Belgian coach Hugo Broos expects a tougher campaign in the tournament starting December 21.

He said, "It will be harder because every opponent will be more motivated to defeat us after the bronze medal," referring to the coach who led Cameroon to the 2017 title.

Angola and Zimbabwe recently changed their coaches, with Frenchman Patrice Beaumelle taking charge of Angola and Romanian Mario Marinica coaching Zimbabwe.

Angola has reached the quarterfinals three times, including last year, while Zimbabwe has never advanced beyond the group stage in its history.