As the Holy Bible urges believers to remain steadfast through trials, Mohamed Salah’s journey with Egypt mirrors that spirit of resilience.
Much like Lionel Messi’s emotional triumph with Argentina at the World Cup, Salah’s pursuit of Africa Cup of Nations glory has been filled with heartbreak, persistence, and hope.
Despite being one of the most decorated African players of all time — with Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, and Club World Cup titles — the AFCON trophy remains the one honour that continues to evade him.
Now 33, Salah has twice reached the final, only to suffer painful defeats — to Cameroon in 2017 and to Senegal in 2022, where his Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane consoled him after a dramatic penalty shootout.
In both tournaments, he played a pivotal role: scoring key goals, creating chances, and leading his team with unmatched passion.
He was also part of Egypt’s sides that crashed out unexpectedly in the Round of 16 in both 2019 and 2023 — more wounds to an already emotional journey.
Yet, Salah presses on. Just two games now separate him from fulfilling a lifelong dream: delivering an eighth AFCON title for Egypt — a feat that would cement his legacy not just as a club icon, but a true Egyptian legend.
The question remains: Can Salah finally lift Africa’s most coveted trophy and complete his storybook career?