In recent days, a peculiar image circulated showing Egyptian national team players, including star Mohamed Salah, using old water buckets for cold water therapy. The Egyptian ambassador to Cameroon clarified the situation during a phone interview with the local MBC Masr channel, stating that the use of buckets was "an Egyptian idea."
Ambassador Medhat El Meligi explained that the Egyptian team brought the buckets with them to use for player recovery, as Cameroon lacks the necessary facilities and equipment for such treatments. He mentioned, "Using buckets and other methods is part of the team’s privacy, and I don’t think the buckets are linked to Cameroon, but rather reflect the desire of the head coach, Carlos Queiroz."
He added, "Muscle recovery is better in cold water than hot, and this process will be carried out with the buckets filled with ice that we used." He also noted that recovery devices are available in Cameroon at training locations, but it is not advisable for players to go there to avoid any risk of COVID-19 infections; players will only leave for training.
Egypt is set to face the host team, Cameroon, on Thursday evening in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations.
