Salah slammed over AFCON injury decision after Klopp confirms Liverpool return

22 January 2024 , 15:48

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Mohamed Salah injured his hamstring against Ghana (Image: MB Media/Getty Images)

Mohamed Salah’s decision to leave the Egyptian camp and return to Liverpool for treatment on his hamstring injury has been condemned by Pharaohs’ legend Ahmed Hassan.

Hassan, who is Egypt’s most-capped player with 184 appearances, is fuming Salah is leaving the AFCON after the Pharaohs’ final group game last night against Cape Verde to continue his rehabilitation with Liverpool. Egypt confirmed Salah’s exit, claiming they hoped he would return for the semi-final on February 7 should they reach it, and Hassan feels he should have stayed at the tournament in the Ivory Coast.

“I’ve always backed Salah and I was very happy with his presence as captain of the Egyptian national team,” said Hassan, who helped Egypt win four AFCONs between 1998 and 2010. “I had no problems with what he said, but it turned out that he was plotting his departure from the Egypt camp.

“Do the AFCON regulations allow a player to leave the national team’s camp and come back again? He had the possibility of bringing in someone from Liverpool’s medical staff to be with him during the competition. Again, he is the captain. He should stay with the team no matter what, even if he only had one leg to stand on.

“He even said himself that it’s the Egyptian national team, not Salah’s national team, and this is true. We have confidence in all the players who are there and they must fight for the title.”

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Klopp revealed that Salah would return after Liverpool beat Bournemouth 4-0 on Sunday, a result which took the Reds top of the Premier League table. "However long he is out for, it makes sense he does the rehab with us and our people," Klopp explained.

Your turn! Should Mohamed Salah have remained with Egypt? Let us know your stance in the comments section.

Ahmed Hassan won AFCON four times with Egypt (GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP via Getty Images)

"I spoke to him the night it happened and since then he has been in contact with our doctor and the doc tells me the news. Could he go back [to AFCON]? I am not a doctor but I would say if he is fit before the final and Egypt qualify then probably yes.

"Why not? That is the tournament. Ivory Coast is a wonderful country but we have no people there and the people who are there have to look after the ones who are playing."

David Anderson