Egyptian football superstar Mohamed Salah heads to Morocco with one clear and burning ambition: to finally fill the glaring gap in his illustrious collection of winners' medals. The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), kicking off on Sunday, presents a fifth opportunity for the Liverpool forward to claim the continental crown that has agonisingly slipped from his grasp four times before.
A History of AFCON Heartbreak for the Egyptian King
Despite being a serial winner at club level with Liverpool, securing Premier League, Champions League, and domestic cup honours, the AFCON winners' medal remains absent. Salah's journey with the Pharaohs has been marked by frustration. In the 2017 final in Gabon, he created the goal that put Egypt ahead against Cameroon, only for a late strike to snatch victory for the Indomitable Lions.
Two years later, as hosts and favourites, Egypt suffered a shocking last-16 exit to South Africa in Cairo. The pain continued in 2022 in Cameroon, where Egypt reached the final but fell to Senegal in a penalty shootout after 120 goalless minutes. The most recent setback came last year in Ivory Coast, where an injury ruled Salah out of the tournament after the group stage, and Egypt again lost in a last-16 penalty shootout, this time to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Egypt's Challenge in Morocco: Stiff Competition Awaits
The landscape has shifted since Egypt's era of dominance, when they were the team to beat. Now, they are considered just one of several strong contenders in Morocco, with the hosts themselves installed as favourites. Egypt's campaign in Group B begins against Zimbabwe on December 22, followed by potentially tougher fixtures against South Africa and Angola.
To lift the trophy for a record-extending eighth time, and for the first time since 2010, Egypt must navigate a path of four knockout matches after the group stage. Head coach Hossam Hassan, a former AFCON-winning striker, has a wealth of attacking talent at his disposal beyond Salah. This includes Omar Marmoush of Manchester City, Mostafa Mohamed of Nantes, and Al Ahly stars Mahmoud 'Trezeguet' Hassan and Ahmed 'Zizo' El Sayed.
However, a potential concern is the form of veteran Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy, once Africa's undisputed best but now prone to errors.
Salah's Personal Mission Amid Liverpool Tensions
Salah arrives in the coastal city of Agadir, where Egypt will play all three group matches, following a week of intense speculation about his club future. After being left on the bench for three consecutive Liverpool matches, an emotional Salah claimed he felt "thrown under the bus," and his relationship with manager Arne Slot appeared strained.
Amid rumours of a potential January move to the Saudi Pro League, Salah came off the bench last weekend in a 2-0 win over Brighton, providing an assist that saw him surpass Wayne Rooney's record for the most goal involvements for a single club in Premier League history (277). Slot has since downplayed any rift, but Salah's form in front of goal for Liverpool this season has been below his usual stellar standards.
Now, the 33-year-old icon, ever optimistic, hopes the change of scenery from Merseyside to Morocco will reignite his clinical edge. As he has repeatedly stated to reporters: "I am confident that one day I will be part of an Egyptian team that wins the Africa Cup of Nations." For Mohamed Salah, that day must be in Morocco 2025.
