Salah will be among best players at AFCON – Egypt coach

Egypt national team head coach Hossam Hassan has backed forward Mohamed Salah to be among the best players at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

The 35th edition of the AFCON got underway on Saturday with hosts Morocco defeating Comoros 2-0 in a Group A fixture at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

Egypt will kick off their campaign on Monday when they take on Zimbabwe in a Group B contest at Adrar Stadium. Ahead of the fixture, the veteran Hassan believes the Liverpool forward will be the star to watch in Morocco despite arriving after being benched by Liverpool for three consecutive matches.

Salah will remain an icon and one of the best

“Salah’s morale in training is very high, as if he were just starting out with the national team, and I believe he will have a great tournament with his country,” said Hassan told reporters as quoted by Flashscore.

“I believe Salah will be among the best players at the tournament, and he will remain an icon and one of the best players in the world. I support him technically and morally, because we cannot forget that Salah needs to win the Africa Cup of Nations.”

On the standoff with Liverpool manager Arne Slot, Hassan admitted he was in constant communication with Salah throughout the feud.

He said: “There was constant communication with Mohamed Salah during what I don’t want to call a crisis because any player can have a difference of opinion with his coach at his club.”

On Salah’s goal drought which stretches to Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Aston Villa, the Egypt coach said: “The same situation happened with ⁠Salah when he went through a period of not scoring goals with Liverpool.

“Then he returned to the right path through the national team, and as a result, he came back at a level even better than before. I believe he will deliver a strong tournament alongside his teammates.”

After facing Zimbabwe, Egypt will remain with two matches against South Africa, and Angola.

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