MOHAMED SALAH’S Africa Cup of Nations could be over after he suffered a hamstring injury against Ghana.
The Liverpool forward left the field injured on Thursday as Egypt played out a 2-2 draw.
The Egyptian FA have now announced that Salah suffered a hamstring strain and will miss his country’s next two matches.
As a result, he is ruled out of their final group match against Cape Verde as well as the round of 16, if they qualify.
Egypt are second in group B after drawing their first two matches, and now need a win in the final fixture to guarantee progression.
However, they will now have to do so without their star man, against a side that has already won the group.
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Salah, who scored a stoppage time penalty against Mozambique on Sunday, appeared to fight back tears as he left the pitch against Ghana.
He was forced off on the stroke of half-time after receiving treatment on the pitch.
Fans had been hopeful Salah would be able to play Egypt’s next match, though.
The 31-year-old was spotted smiling as he left the stadium following the match.
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Unfortunately for Egypt and Salah, however, his tournament could now be over if they do not reach the last eight.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp admitted he went into a state of “shock” when he saw his star man go down.
And Liverpool’s boss has not ruled out flying the club’s own medical team to Africa Cup of Nations host country Ivory Coast to treat his star.
Klopp said: “I spoke last night with him and how it is with these injuries — you need further assessment. That’s what they are doing now and then we will know more.
“Of course it was in that moment a shock: ‘Oh my God, what is it?’. You have these kinds of hamstring injuries in a different way but he felt it.
“And we all know how rarely Mo goes off or needs to go off, so there is definitely something and we will see.”
If Egypt crash out after Monday’s group finale, then Salah will be back on Merseyside by next week.
An Anfield medical team is now on standby. Asked whether the Reds will send their own experts, Klopp said: “There will be an ultrasound and they will do an MRI.
“Then we will know what it is and we will see what Egypt plans. But it’s too early to say.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
