Salah's image has changed dramatically in the "Hair loss controversy" and almost got in trouble...
Last updated
Last updated
Egypt (33rd in FIFA ranking) drew 2-2 after a close match with Mozambique (111th in FIFA ranking) in the first Group B match of the 2023 African Football Confederation (CAF) Nations Cup held at Felix Upue-Buani Stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, at 2 a.m. on the 15th (Korea time).
The 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup and Nations Cup have also opened. The team led by Salah had high expectations in many ways. It was because of Salah, who finished second in the 2021 Nations Cup, and most of all, because of him as a living legend in the Premier League as well as Liverpool. In addition, he displayed strong performance as there were many players traveling around the European leagues.
Salah's presence is palpable in a joke that coach Jurgen Klopp left before the opening of the tournament. Ahead of the match against Arsenal in the third round of the FA Cup in England, Klopp was asked about Salah's presence in the Asian Cup with Endo Wataru. "Personally, I would be very happy if the two players were eliminated from the group league, but that would be impossible. We could win the tournament again!" Klopp joked with a smile.
Salah and Egypt challenged each other to the African championship. Mozambique was the first opponent with a wide gap in objective performance. They started off well. Mostafa Mohamed scored the first goal in the second minute of the first half by pushing a ball that Salah gave from inside the penalty box when he fell.
However, an unexpected development unfolded. Mozambique reversed the game with a counterattack. Witty headed a Domingos cross in the 10th minute of the second half to score an equalizer. Clesio Baucet, who received a horseback-riding pass in the 13th minute of the second half, scored a come-from-behind goal at a one-on-one chance.
Egypt started chasing after the team, using four replacement cards. The balance was only struck right before the end of the match. During the extra time in the second half, Mohammed collided with the opponent and collapsed while competing inside the box. The referee declared a penalty kick (PK) after VAR. Salah, who was playing as a kicker, scored with a shot aimed at the corner. In the end, the game ended with a 2-2 draw.
Salah had his hair cut neatly during the match against Newcastle United. He almost got caught by Mozambique, the so-called weakest team, but managed to avoid an unexpected incident. Salah and Egypt will have a showdown with Ghana (61st FIFA ranking) at 5 a.m. on Wednesday.