Egypt coach Rui Vitoria said it was “too early to say” whether Mohamed Salah would play again at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations after he sustained an injury in Thursday’s 2-2 draw with Ghana.
The Liverpool striker went off late in the first half of the
Group B game in Abidjan after appearing to clutch the back of his left leg.
“We don’t
know yet what is the problem. I hope not a big problem…It is too early to say something,” said Vitoria after his
team’s
second successive 2-2 draw in the tournament.
“Salah is an amazing player, one of the best players in the
world, so we want to have this kind of player always with us.”
Salah’s
penalty in stoppage time spared Egypt from a shock loss to Mozambique in their
opening game, and the Pharaohs were up against it once more against a
much-improved Ghana side.
The Black Stars, who were stunned 2-1 by Cape Verde to begin
the competition, took the lead after Salah’s
injury when Mohammed Kudus hammered in a long-range shot in first-half stoppage
time.
Omar Marmoush equalised before Kudus struck again, but
Mostafa Mohamed ensured Egypt came away with a point as the Nantes forward
netted for the second game in a row.
“The players were upset after conceding at the end of the
first half…but it’s football, we changed the
mindset in the second half, we went for the game with positive energy,” said Vitoria.
“Not because of Salah, but because the result was not good.
The reaction and commitment of the team were good, but Salah is an amazing
player and we cannot forget that.”
Vitoria insisted that regardless of the nature of Salah’s injury his team is still
capable of winning a record-extending eighth AFCON title.
“Nobody wins the title without coming through difficult
games…today
we showed, mainly in the second half, the courage and quality of this team.”
AFP
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