The Egyptian Football Association announced today, Sunday, that "Mohamed Salah, the injured captain of the national team, will attend the team’s last group stage match against Cape Verde tomorrow, Monday, and will then head to England to continue his rehabilitation program." The Egyptian Federation stated on its Facebook account: "After conducting additional tests for Mohamed Salah in the past few hours and in coordination with the medical staff of the national team and Liverpool's medical team, it has been decided that the player will return to England after the Cape Verde match tomorrow to continue his treatment." There is hope for him "to join the national team in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations if the team qualifies."
Earlier today, Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp said it makes sense for Salah to return to the club in the Premier League to complete his rehabilitation program after his injury during the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. The Liverpool forward sustained a muscle injury just before the end of the first half in the group match against Ghana last Thursday in Abidjan. The Egyptian Football Association expects him to miss the next two matches if the team secures qualification for the knockout stage.
In response to a question during a press conference following their 4-0 win over Bournemouth today regarding the possibility of Salah returning to Merseyside, Klopp stated in comments reported on the club's website: "This is the plan. If this has been decided 100%, I don’t know, but this is the plan. No matter how long he’ll be absent, I think everyone can probably see that it makes sense for him to rehabilitate with us or with our team. This is the plan."
He added: "I spoke to him directly after the match on the night of the injury. Since then, he has been in contact with our doctor. The doctor informed me of the news, so I think he will return." When asked if Salah could play again for Egypt during the Africa Cup of Nations, Klopp said, "I am not a doctor. I would like to say that if Egypt qualifies for the final and he is ready before the semi-final, then maybe yes. Why not?"
Salah, who has played 96 international matches, was part of the Egypt squad that lost to Cameroon in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in 2017 in Gabon, and he lost the title again in the last edition held in Cameroon two years ago when Senegal triumphed on penalties.
