AFCON 2023: Egypt Team Doctor Weighs in On Mohamed Salah Saga with Controversial Claim

• Mohamed Salah will return to Liverpool for further treatment
• The Egyptian has a hamstring problem that will keep him out of games
• His return to Liverpool has led to criticism from fans

The saga between Egypt and Liverpool over Mohamed Salah’s well-being continues.

An Egypt team doctor has sensationally claimed Mohamed Salah did not want to travel back to Liverpool while his nation was still participating in the Africa Cup of Nations.

The talismanic Salah was injured during his nation’s 2-2 draw against Ghana in their AFCON opener, and it was later confirmed that he had suffered a hamstring injury.

He was a conspicuous absentee for his side’s 2-2 draw against Cape Verde, as Egypt narrowly advanced to the last 16 of the competition.

On Wednesday, January 24, it was confirmed that Salah would return to Liverpool for an “intensive rehabilitation programme” as it was found that his injury was worse than expected.

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The 31-year-old is expected to be out for at least a month.

Egypt FA vs Liverpool

News that Salah would travel back to Liverpool for further treatment attracted its fair share of criticism, particularly from Egypt fans.

One of the more sensational accusations against Salah came from Egypt legend and four-time AFCON winner Ahmed Hasan, who claimed Salah had plotted his Liverpool return, as per 90Min.

Others questioned the quality of medical facilities among the Egypt camp, and wondered why Salah had to return to Liverpool for treatment with his team still at the Africa Cup of Nations.

The controversy over the Egyptian’s Liverpool return all stemmed from Egypt coach Rui Vitoria’s criticsm of Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp for publicly discussing the winger’s injury despite the lack of official communication from the Egypt FA at the time.

Egypt’s team doctor speaks

Now, another stakeholder in Salah’s health has come out to claim Salah did not want to return to Liverpool.

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According to Mohamed Abou El-Ela, Klopp was wrong to contradict Egypt’s initial assessment of Salah’s injury since the Egypt doctors expected the winger to be back in time for the knockouts.

“When the initial statement from the EFA indicated that Salah would only miss two matches, we had only conducted one X-ray,” he said, as per Kingfut, via Kickoff Online.

He added: “But our agreement with Liverpool (to announce the extent of Salah’s injury) was made two days ago, and it was to announce the news only after the Cape Verde match.”

“But Jurgen Klopp was the one who announced it early, and Salah himself did not want to travel. If he wanted to, he would have left on the first day.”

Salah’s absence leaves a significant void in the Egypt squad, and the seven-time AFCON winners will have to look at other attacking options to find their spark in this campaign after drawing all their group games.

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Top 5 disappointments at AFCON

Sports Brief also highlighted some nations that were underwhelming at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Hosts Ivory Coast headline this list, as qualification to the last 16 is out of their hands after a 4-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea.