The captain of the Egypt national team, Mohamed Salah has used the sudden exit of the Super Eagles of Nigeria from the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to describe how tough the tournament has been.
Recall that the Super Eagles of Nigeria won all their games in the group stage of the competition including a 1-0 win over Egypt. Due to their free-flowing football at the tournament, most football enthusiasts described the Super Eagles as favorites to win the tournament.
Unfortunately, Nigeria crashed out of the tournament in the knock-out stage after losing 1-0 at the hands of Tunisia that struggled before they could make it out of their group stage.
Aside from the shocking exit of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, the defending champions of the tournament, Algeria, were also knocked out of the tournament in the group stage.
Fortunately for Mohamed Salah, Egypt which started the tournament with a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Nigeria, are still waxing strong in the tournament.
They knocked out Ivory Coast in the round of 16 and knocked out Morocco in the quarter-final stage of the competition to book themselves a place in the semi-final stage of the tournament.
Unfortunately for Mohamed Salah and his teammates, they are scheduled to face the host, Cameroon on Thursday, February 2, 2022, at 20:00.
Ahead of the game, Mohamed Salah who has scored two goals and provided an assist in 5 games so far in the 2021 AFCON said the early exit of Nigeria and Algeria from the tournament defines how tough the tournament has been.
“Nigeria had been the best team in the group stage and then they lost,” Mohamed Salah told GOAL.
“So you never know with any game. It’s tough for everyone. Algeria lost in the group stage, having won it last time, and they had a great team.
“Senegal qualified with one goal, I’m not saying something bad, just that the tournament is tough.”
If Egypt manage to beat Cameroon on Thursday, they will head straight to the final to face either Senegal or Burkina Faso who are paired to clash in the second semi-final of the 2021 AFCON.
Though Egypt are the most successful team in the tournament, Mohamed Salah is yet to win the tournament for his country. Hence, just like Sadio Mane of Senegal, his teammate at Liverpool, Salah would do all he can to win the ongoing edition of the tournament.
📹 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒: 🇪🇬 2-1 🇲🇦
— #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 🏆 (@CAF_Online) January 30, 2022
A dramatic encounter sees #TeamEgypt progress to the semi-finals thanks to @MoSalah and @Trezeguet’s goals 🔴
Watch all the key moments from #EGYMAR 👇#TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 | #AFCON2021 | @Football2Gether pic.twitter.com/Qee8lmDIal
