The Pharaohs of Egypt forward Mohamed Salah has revealed that his club Liverpool will be fine without him as he heads to 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, in Cote d’Ivoire.
Salah said this after scoring a brace to help Jurgen Klopp’s side beat Newcastle United 4-2 on Monday night.
The match was Salah’s last game for Liverpool as he prepared to join the Egypt squad for the 2023 AFCON.
Speaking after Liverpool defeated Newcastle, Salah told Sky Sports: “Everybody asks me the same!” he said. “I want to win this competition, I would love to win it.
“But without me, I’m sure the [Liverpool] players will manage to win games. We have fantastic players, really good quality, they just need to keep the pressure away and just play their football. We have players who can play in my position, they can do what I am doing.
“It means a lot to play for the national team, it’s a great feeling. Every time I step on the field with the national team jersey, it’s something I cannot take for granted. I’m just happy to play in the tournament and I would love to win it.”
Vanguard Sports reports that Monday’s victory saw Liverpool move three points atop the Premier League table, and will now have to continue their title race without their lynchpin, Salah.
The Pharaohs, on the other hand, will be looking at winning their eight AFCON crown and break their thirteen-year jinx to elongate their dominance on African football.
They are drawn in Group B alongside Ghana, Mozambique and Cape Verde.
