There were no visible tears from Mohamed Salah when the final whistle blew in Tangier. Instead, a brief smile crossed his face — one that barely concealed the familiar pain of another Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) disappointment.
Once again, Egypt’s campaign ended in defeat to Senegal, and once again it was Sadio Mané, Salah’s former Liverpool team-mate, who stood in his way. The semi-final loss ensured that Salah’s long wait for an AFCON title goes on, despite another tournament in which he shouldered his nation’s hopes almost single-handedly.
Salah’s AFCON 2026 Performance: Carrying Egypt Again
Across five starts in Morocco, the 33-year-old scored four goals, leading Egypt to the semi-finals and reaffirming his enduring quality on the international stage.
After Egypt’s quarter-final victory over Ivory Coast, Salah described the squad atmosphere as the best he had experienced with the national team.
“We’re all close, we love each other, we hang out together, the humour is unbelievable, and we work hard both on and off the pitch,” Salah said.
Yet despite that unity, Egypt’s wait for an AFCON title — last lifted in 2010 — continues, and Salah remains without the one major honour missing from his glittering career.
Egypt face Nigeria in the third-place play-off in Casablanca on Saturday, after which Salah is expected to return to Merseyside, where uncertainty still surrounds his club future.
Salah’s Liverpool Absence and the Fallout With Arne Slot
Salah has not started a match for Liverpool since 26 November, when Arne Slot’s side were beaten 4–1 by PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.
Since then, Liverpool are 11 games unbeaten in all competitions (six wins, five draws). However, performances have divided opinion, with Slot recently acknowledging he did not “completely disagree” with criticism labelling the football as “dull and boring”.
The Leeds Interview That Changed Everything
More than a month has passed since Salah’s explosive mixed-zone interview at Leeds, where he accused Liverpool of “throwing him under the bus” after being benched for three consecutive matches. He also suggested his relationship with Slot had broken down.
The fallout was swift. Salah was left out of the squad for the trip to Inter Milan, though he was not fined and returned to the matchday squad against Brighton days later.
When Joe Gomez was injured in that game, Salah came on in the first half, provided an assist, and received a rapturous reception from the Anfield crowd. After full-time, he stayed behind to applaud all four sides of the stadium as supporters sang his familiar “Egyptian King” anthem.
That Brighton appearance proved to be his final outing for Liverpool before linking up with Egypt.
Slot later insisted there was “no issue to resolve”, while Curtis Jones revealed Salah had apologised to his team-mates for the disruption caused by the interview.
When Will Mohamed Salah Play for Liverpool Again?
Under FIFA regulations, Salah will not be available for Liverpool’s Premier League clash against Burnley this Saturday, as players must remain with their national team until the morning after their final match.
Because Egypt are involved in the third-place play-off, Salah will travel back to the UK on Sunday.
Liverpool are expected to clarify their plans only after Egypt’s AFCON campaign concludes, though Slot is likely to face questions about Salah in his pre-match news conference.
The most likely scenario is that Salah returns to the squad for Liverpool’s Champions League trip to Marseille next week, followed by a Premier League fixture away at Bournemouth.
Liverpool’s Injury Crisis Boosts Salah’s Importance
Although Liverpool have avoided defeat in Salah’s absence, they have suffered significant injuries.
- Alexander Isak is ruled out until at least March with a lower-leg injury
- Conor Bradley is out for the rest of the season with a knee problem
With Bradley sidelined, Jeremie Frimpong is expected to deputise at right-back, potentially opening space for Salah to return on the right wing. Slot could also deploy Dominik Szoboszlai wide in a 4-2-3-1, as he did against Brighton.
Salah remains an option through the middle, though Hugo Ekitike is currently Slot’s preferred central striker.
AFCON Pain and a Dream Still Unfulfilled
Before the semi-final defeat, Salah spoke candidly about the pressure of chasing AFCON glory.
“No one in the country wants to win this title more than me. I’ve won everything in football except this one, and I’ve been carrying this pressure for a long time.”
AFCON heartbreak has been a recurring theme in Salah’s international career:
- 2021 final: Salah never took a penalty as Egypt lost to Senegal
- 2023: Criticised after leaving injured during the group stage
- 2026: Semi-final defeat again to Senegal
Salah’s next chance will come at AFCON 2027, hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. He will be 35 years old by then, but remains in exceptional physical condition.
What Does the Future Hold for Mohamed Salah?
Salah’s current Liverpool contract expires in summer 2027, the same year as the next AFCON. In the short term, the expectation is that he will remain at Anfield through the summer and lead Egypt at the World Cup.
Beyond that, his future is less certain.
Slot has made it clear that Salah must earn his place like any other player.
“For me, he’s now the same as any other player,” Slot said previously.
Salah is not a footballer who will tolerate prolonged spells on the bench. His desire to start matches remains undiminished, and seeing Sadio Mané — the same age and now thriving at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia — continues to fuel speculation that a Middle East move could be a realistic option.
A Defining Phase Ahead for Salah
For now, Liverpool will welcome Salah’s return amid an injury-hit campaign, while Egypt will continue to lean on him as their talisman.
Whether the next chapter sees redemption in red, international glory, or a new challenge abroad, Mohamed Salah remains driven by unfinished business — and the sense that time, while not yet winning, is finally starting to press.
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