Mohamed Salah, the captain of the Egyptian national team, responded to the criticism he faced after his performance decline in the first two matches of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations against Mozambique and Ghana. Salah left the match against Ghana last Thursday in the second round of the group stage due to injury, and he will miss the Pharaohs' next two matches.
In a press conference on Sunday before the match against Cape Verde on Monday, he stated, "I do not play alone; football is ultimately a team game. I want to win the Africa Cup of Nations title. We are a complete team with great players." He continued, "Egypt is not just Salah; I did not pay attention to any criticisms before the tournament, and my entire focus is on my work as a player."
He went on to say, "Criticism will never stop. Some people continuously support us, which is what players need, and there are those who do the opposite, but I do not care about what is said about me." Salah added, "Criticism affects some young players who feel immense pressure, while others are not affected, which is good."
He indicated that winning the Africa Cup of Nations title will happen sooner or later, noting that "the Egyptian national team has the desire to win the title, and wearing the Pharaohs' jersey is an honor for any player." In response to the ongoing criticism regarding the difference in his performance for the national team compared to Liverpool, he stated, "The discussion about the difference in my performance at Liverpool and the Egyptian national team falls under the category of freedom of opinion, and it does not diminish my worth."
Regarding his injury, Salah said that Liverpool is monitoring the injury with the Egyptian national team's coaching staff, and a statement regarding the latest developments will be issued in the next few hours.
