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Mohamed Salah has reaffirmed his love for Egypt but hit back at his critics after being forced to leave their camp for the Africa Cup of Nations with a hamstring injury.
The winger was forced off at half-time of Egypt’s 2-2 draw with Ghana in their second group stage fixture, and though he was initially expected to return quickly, further tests revealed the injury was more serious than first thought and he has returned to Liverpool for treatment.
Salah could yet return to the Pharaohs’ camp later in the tournament should he make a speedy recovery, but his decision to leave the setup has proven controversial in his home country.
Egypt legend Ahmed Hasan had accused Mohamed Salah of “plotting his departure”, but this claim was refuted by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and his assistant Pep Lijnders.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Salah spoke for the first time in the aftermath of the uproar.
بدأت امبارح برنامج العلاج والتأهيل وهعمل كل حاجه ممكنه علشان اكون جاهز في اقرب وقت وارجع للمنتخب زي ماكان متفق عليه من البدايه….بردو بحبها وبحب ناسها🇪🇬… حاولو اكتر 😛 pic.twitter.com/FsNsBfY99M
— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) January 25, 2024
“Yesterday I started the treatment and rehabilitation program and I will do everything possible to be ready as soon as possible and return to the national team as was agreed upon from the beginning,” Salah wrote.
“I also love it [Egypt] and its people…try harder.”
Salah’s use of emojis and his seemingly passive-aggressive undertone has only caused further debate on social media, with many of the top replies questioning his seriousness and commitment.
Egypt are through to the last 16 of AFCON and will take on DR Congo on Sunday. Should they prevail, they will then face Guinea or Equatorial Guinea in the quarter-finals on February 2.
The semi-finals are scheduled for February 7 before the final takes place on February 11. Should Egypt fall in the last four, they will go into a third-place play-off on February 10 instead.
Liverpool, meanwhile, face Norwich City in the FA Cup fourth round this weekend before a pair of tricky Premier League matches at home to Chelsea and away at Arsenal. They host Burnley on February 10 and travel to Brentford a week later before facing Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final on February 25, at which point Salah is expected to be fit again.
