CAIRO – Egypt superstar Mohamed Salah has outlined his burning desire to lead the Pharaohs to CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) glory after recent near misses.
Salah stressed how representing Egypt means “a lot to me” but admitted his ultimate target is to lift the AFCON trophy after losing two finals.
“It’s a great feeling every time you step on the field with the national team jersey,” the Liverpool forward said.
“It’s something I cannot take for granted. I am just happy to be there, happy to play in the tournament,” Salah added according to the CAF official website.
The seven-time African champions will kick off their campaign in Group B against Mozambique on January 14, followed by a clash with Ghana on January 18, concluding their group stage against Cape Verde on January 22.
Egypt has not won the competition since Salah was a teenager back in 2010, falling short in the 2017 and 2021 finals.
The 31-year-old is eager to avoid more disappointment, declaring: “I want to win this competition. I would love to win it.”
After being part of the Pharaohs’ side beaten by Cameroon in 2017, Salah then agonisingly missed the decisive penalty in February’s shootout loss to Senegal.
Now the talismanic Liverpool attacker is on a personal mission to lead Egypt to a record-extending eighth CAF AFCON title.
Factbox on Egypt
Africa Cup of Nations record:
Previous appearances in finals: (25) 1957, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1970, 1974, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2017, 2019, 2021.
Best performance: Winners 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010.
The Pharaohs were drawn in 2023 AFCON in Group B with the Cape Verde Islands, Ghana and Mozambique.
Coach: Rui Vitoria.
The 53-year-old Portuguese has been in charge of the Egyptian side for the last 18 months after signing a four-year deal in July, 2022.
After a modest playing career in the lower reaches of the Portuguese leagues, he made his name as a coach at Vitoria Guimaraes, leading them to cup success over Benfica in 2013.
The Lisbon giants signed him to coach them from 2015 and he won two successive league titles with Benfica. He has also won the championship in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr.
Key player: Mohamed Salah. Age: 31. Forward.
There will again be expectation on Salah´s shoulders as Egypt look to him to return them to winning ways, particularly after the disappointment of losing on penalties to Senegal in the last final in Cameroon.
The Liverpool forward has won two African Footballer of the Year awards and become a global icon after a career which has also included spells at Basel, Chelsea, Fiorentina and AS Roma. Salah,
Liverpool’s leading Premier League goalscorer made his international debut in 2011 and has since won 93 caps for his country, with the possibility to reach 100 if Egypt do well in the Ivory Coast.
How they qualified: Top placed team in Group D, ahead of Guinea, Malawi and Ethiopia.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Mohamed Abou Gabal (National Bank), Ahmed El Shennawy (Pyramids), Mohamed El Shennawy (Al Ahly), Mohamed Sobhi (Zamalek)
Defenders: Mohamed Abdelmoneim (Al Ahly), Ahmed Fatouh (Zamalek), Ali Gabr, Osama Galal, Mohamed Hamdy (all Pyramids), Mohamed Hany (Al Ahly), Ahmed Hegazi (Al Ittihad), Yasser Ibrahim (Al Ahly), Omar Kamal (Future), Ahmed Samy (Pyramids)
Midfielders: Emam Ashour, Marwan Attia (both Al Ahly), Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal), Hamdi Fathi (Pyramids), Mahmoud Hamada (Al Ahly), Mohanad Lashin (Pyramids), Ahmed Zizo (Zamalek)
Forwards: Mostafa Fathi (Pyramids), Mahmoud Kahraba (Al Ahly), Ahmed Hassan Kouka (Pendikspor), Omar Marmoush (Eintracht Frankfurt), Mostafa Mohamed (Nantes), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Mahmoud Trezeguet (Trabzonspor).
