No escape for Nigeria, Salah makes Egypt vow ahead of AFCON campaign

Liverpool forward, Mohamed Salah, has made a vow ahead of Egypt’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign getting underway.

Salah scored against his former club Chelsea on Sunday, before preparing to travel to Cameroon for the tournament with his national side.

Egypt are the most successful country in the tournament’s history having won the competition seven times, but last lifted the trophy in 2010.

However, Salah heads into the Africa Cup of Nations as arguably the best player in the world and has sent a message, prior to the tournament.

“The road is not easy, but we will fight to get back with the cup. Stay behind us #Encourage_Egypt,” the 29-year-old wrote on his Instagram.

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Egypt went out at the last 16 phase of the competition in 2019 and Salah will be looking to finally improve on his country’s runner-up spot in 2017, where his side lost 2-1 to Cameroon in the final.

Salah begins his international campaign against Nigeria in Egypt’s opening game of the group stage next Tuesday.

The Pharaohs then face Guinea-Bissau on January 15, before their final group match against Sudan four days later.

Managed by former Manchester United assistant manager and ex-Real Madrid boss Carlos Queiroz, Egypt enter the tournament as one of the favourites and remained unbeaten during qualification.

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His Liverpool team-mates Sadio Mane and Naby Keita will also be representing Senegal and Guinea respectively and come up against each other in the same group game on January 14.

The final of the tournament is scheduled to be February 6 with the trio likely to be available for Liverpool’s league game against Leicester on February 10.

During that time Liverpool have league games against Brentford and Crystal Palace, as well as their FA Cup match against Shrewsbury and rescheduled Carabao Cup semi-final ties against Arsenal.