Image Credits: Imago Images
The Africa Cup of Nations always brings pressure. It is not just about football. It is about pride. Every big nation wants to lift the trophy.
Every top player is judged on what he does on this stage. Egypt know this better than most.
They have a proud history in the tournament. Their fans expect wins, not excuses.
This year’s competition has also been tough. The reigning champions were still standing.
Strong teams like Nigeria, Morocco and Senegal were all in the mix. Every match felt like a final. One mistake could send a team home.
When you reach the semi-final stage, there is no room to hide. This is where leaders must step up and guide their teams through the storm.
For Liverpool supporters, this is familiar territory. We watch one of our own carry the hopes of a nation on his shoulders. We know how much he cares. We also know he never shies away from responsibility.
That same hunger to win is what makes him special at Anfield. It is also what makes him so important for Egypt.
Mohamed Salah helped Egypt claim a hard-fought 3-2 win over Ivory Coast to reach the AFCON semi-finals.
After the match, Salah made his feelings clear. He said, “I am very happy and proud to play with these guys.”
He also spoke about the fans, adding, “We always want to bring joy to the Egyptian fans, and we believe we can win every match with this mindset.”
The game was not easy. Ivory Coast had won the last AFCON and played with confidence.
Salah admitted it was tough, saying, “It was a difficult match. The Ivorians won the AFCON last time at home.”
”They played like champions today as well.”
From a Liverpool point of view, this is the Salah we know. He takes responsibility.
He said, “I always give my all for my team. I try to bring my experience to help us achieve great things.”
Looking ahead, Salah kept his feet on the ground. He said Egypt were not “100 per the favourite” because Nigeria, Morocco and Senegal all have strong teams.
He added, “Most of our national team players play in the domestic league, it’s not to belittle them, but we are trying our best because we love our country.”
With a semi-final against Senegal next, Salah did not shy away from the challenge.
He said, “The game [against Senegal] will be difficult, they have a squad that plays at a high level in Europe, but I hope we can achieve victory.”
That message was clear. Egypt will fight. And so will Liverpool’s No.11.
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