Egypt eye World Cup breakthrough in Salah’s likely last World Cup
CAIRO: Mohamed Salah has unfinished business in what could be his final World Cup as Egypt’s superstar seeks to deliver a first win at the tournament for the Pharaohs. Powerhouses of African football with a record seven continental titles, Egypt have struggled to make a dent on the global stage in three previous attempts. Salah should have arrived at the 2018 World Cup in the form of his life. Fresh from scoring 44 goals in his debut season at Liverpool — which propelled him from promising talent into a worldwide phenomenon — Salah suffered a serious shoulder injury in the Champions League final after an infamous challenge by Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos. A patched-up Salah did make it to Russia and scored twice in his two appearances, but failed to prevent a group stage exit after defeats to the hosts, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. Now the 33-year-old comes into a World Cup at the other end of his Liverpool career. Salah broke down in tears several times as his nine-year spell at Anfield ended on Sunday after amassing 257 goals, two Premier League titles and Champions League glory. “We put this club back where it belongs,” he said in his parting message on Merseyside. His Premier League exploits meant that his influence stretched far beyond the field of play. Salah was named in Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in 2019, described as an “iconic figure for Egyptians, Scousers and Muslims the world over.” He has used that profile to call for greater gender equality in the Arab world and to appeal for humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza following Israeli air strikes in October 2023.
