Has time finally run out for Mohamed Salah?

Mohamed Salah, regarded far and wide as one of the greatest wingers to ever grace the premier league. In a career heavily laden with glorious moments with Liverpool FC and many individual accolades, one that continues to evade him is the Africa Cup of Nations.

Many of the continent’s best have at a point in their career taken home this prestigious title.

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Mohamed Salah can however take solace in the fact that the likes of Ivorian legend Didier Drogba and Liberian legend George Weah never attained this feat either.

Salah started his international exploits with a good showing at the 2002 summer Olympics in London. Consequently, he was named CAF’s most promising African talent that year. 

His 13 years of action with the national team has seen him pick up the BBC and CAF African footballer of the year in 2017 and 2018.

While also being a part of the AFCON and CAF team of the year on multiple occasions.

The intricacies of the AFCON have seen the Pharaohs captain fail on many occasions. Losing at the final stage in the 2019 edition to Cameroon and more recently in 2021 to then teammate Sadio Mane’s Senegal.

Salah came into the 2023 edition with renewed vigour and on peak form with his club side. He began the tournament on the strong foot with a goal and assist in their opening fixture. 

However, the Egyptian skipper went off injured just 45 minutes into their second group game against Ghana.

In his absence, the side managed to secure qualification to the knockouts where they’re stopped in their tracks by DR Congo. 

Egypt got red carded just 7 minutes into the extratime and suffered a tough 8-7 defeat via penalties to the Leopards of Congo. Goalkeeper Gabiski, hero in their 2021 run to the final, unfortunately had his penalty come off the post.

This trophy is all that stands between himself and Mohamed Aboutrika as the face of Egyptian football. With the latter winning it in successive editions in 2006 and 2008, the Morocco held 2025 edition could not come sooner for Mo Salah.

A tournament held in North Africa and closer to home could be the last shot at glory for the Liverpool talisman to secure continental acclaim. 

The only reservations come with the sudden decline in ability as age calls. Salah will be 33 years come that edition and should that victory not happen, the only outside chance will be at the 2027 edition. Where he’ll be the veteran of veterans if he’s still a part of the squad.