AFCON Is What I’m Waiting For – Mohamed Salah Declares Ahead Of Egypt Vs Senegal Clash

Mohamed Salah has made it clear that winning the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) remains the one major prize missing from his career as he prepares for Egypt’s crucial semi-final clash against Senegal in Morocco.

The Egypt captain, who has won major domestic and continental honours at club level, said the AFCON title carries a special significance for him and his country.

“I have won almost every honour in the game,” Salah said, “but this is the one I am waiting for.

“Everyone wants to achieve something for their country, so I hope we succeed. I think no one in Egypt wants to win the Africa Cup of Nations more than me. I have achieved everything except this title.”

Salah has twice fallen short of lifting the trophy with Egypt, losing the final four years ago and before that in 2017 to Cameroon. Those defeats have continued to shape his determination heading into this year’s tournament.

Egypt moved within two games of the title after a dramatic 3-2 quarter-final victory over the Ivory Coast, with Salah scoring the decisive goal to seal progression.

Awaiting them next is Senegal, led by Sadio Mane, renewing a rivalry that has defined several major moments in African football over the past decade.

Salah and Mane were teammates at Liverpool, but they have also faced each other in several high-stakes international matches. They first met in AFCON qualifiers in 2014, before later clashing in the 2022 AFCON final and a World Cup qualification play-off, both of which were decided on penalties in Senegal’s favour.

Despite those painful moments for Egypt, there has been no public animosity between the two players, with Mane consoling Salah after converting the winning penalty in the AFCON final.