- Home >
- Football >
- CAF Africa Cup of Nations >
- Salah out for two games as fears of serious injury eased
Salah out for two games as fears of serious injury eased
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will breath a sigh of relief at the news the hamstring injury Mohamed Salah suffered at the Africa Cup of Nations is only a strain and nothing more significant.
Salah sparked fears of a potentially lengthy lay-off after limping off in the first half of Frday's (AEDT) 2-2 draw with Ghana.
However, the results of a scan have revealed a muscle strain which Egypt say will rule the Liverpool striker out of its next two games.
That means the 31-year-old will definitely miss his side's final Group B fixture against already-qualified Cape Verde on Tuesday (AEDT) and, if Egypt progresses, its Round of 16 tie as well.
“The X-rays that Mohamed Salah, the captain of the Egyptian national team, underwent, showed that he suffered a hamstring strain,” an Egyptian Football Association statement read.
“And he will miss the team’s next two matches in the Africa Cup of Nations against Cape Verde, and then the round of 16 match in the event of qualification.”
Egypt is currently second in Group B after two draws with Mozambique and Ghana and will face leader Cape Verde knowing only a victory will guarantee passage into the knockout stages.
That won't be easy given Cape Verde's stunning start to the tournament, which has seen it upset Ghana before belting Mozambique 3-0 to remain the only side to have won matches in a tight group.
Salah will be restricted to a watching role and it could also be the case for a potential Round of 16 tie at the end of January, but Liverpool manager Klopp will be pleased the injury to his forward is not set to be a long-term issue.
Earlier on Friday, Klopp had earlier admitted his shock at Salah’s injury taking into account the forward’s impeccable fitness record.
In six and a half seasons since arriving at Anfield, Salah has missed just 10 Premier League matches – one of which was due to COVID-19 and another because of concussion.