Salah bows out of two AFCON matches after hamstring strain

Egyptian star Mohamed Salah will miss two Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) matches for the Pharaohs after suffering a hamstring muscle strain during Thursday’s 2-2 draw with Ghana in Abidjan, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) said.

Salah suffered a hamstring strain before halftime in Thursday’s Group B game against Ghana in Abidjan.

🚨 | إصابة محمد صلاح بشد في العضلة الخلفية ويغيب مباراتين في أمم أفريقيا 🇪🇬

أثبتت الأشعة التي خضع لها محمد صلاح قائد منتخب مصر ، عن إصابته بشد في العضلة الخلفية وسيغيب عن المباراتين المقبلتين للمنتخب في أمم أفريقيا أمام كاب فيردي ، ثم مباراة دور الستة عشر في حالة التأهل . pic.twitter.com/HfIyLNc2US

— EFA.eg (@EFA) January 19, 2024

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“Mohamed Salah suffers a strain in his back muscle and will miss two matches in the African Nations,” the EFA said in a statement. “The x-rays that Mohamed Salah, the captain of the Egyptian national team, underwent, showed that he suffered a strain in the posterior muscle.”

“And he will 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.”

Earlier on Friday, Egypt doctor Mohamed Abu El-Ela said Salah had initially wanted to continue playing in the key game, but when the pain became more acute he asked to be taken off.

Losing Salah would be a major blow to seven-time cup winners Egypt, who have made a slow start to their campaign in Cote d’Ivoire.

Salah scored a last-minute penalty on Sunday for Egypt to draw 2-2 with Mozambique in their opening game. On Thursday, Egypt twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Ghana and effectively need a win in their last group game on Monday against the Cape Verde if they are to advance to the last 16.