Mohamed Salah concluded his club commitments with a standout performance, scoring twice and providing an assist in Liverpool’s 4-2 victory over Newcastle United on a rainy Monday evening at Anfield. The 31-year-old Egyptian star, who also missed a penalty in the first half, showcased his skills impressively. His efforts have placed him at the top of the Premier League’s scoring charts for the 2023/24 season, tied with 14 goals. This match marked Salah’s last appearance in Liverpool colors for some time, as he heads to the Ivory Coast to represent Egypt in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. So When will Mo Salah play at AFCON 2023?
Depending on how far Egypt advances in the tournament (and Liverpool in the FA Cup), Salah might be absent for up to eight matches. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp faces the challenge of filling the void left by Salah, his primary offensive force. Klopp has acknowledged the difficulty of planning for Salah’s absence. As Salah seeks his first international trophy with Egypt, fans can follow his journey throughout the Africa Cup of Nations 2023.
When does Mo Salah Play at AFCON?
Egypt finds itself in Group B for the tournament, sharing the group with Cape Verde, Mozambique, and the formidable Ghana.
The Pharaohs, led by Salah, will kick off their campaign against Mozambique on Sunday, January 14. Their second game is against Ghana on Thursday, January 18, followed by a match against Cape Verde on Monday, January 22.
The schedule for Egypt’s group matches is as follows:
- Egypt vs. Mozambique on January 14 at 17:00 GMT
- Egypt vs. Ghana on January 18 at 20:00 GMT
- Egypt vs. Cape Verde on January 22 at 20:00 GMT
Additionally, Egypt is set to play a warm-up match against Tanzania on Sunday, January 7, where Salah might participate.
If Egypt advances to the knockout stages (with the top two from each group qualifying automatically and four third-placed teams also progressing), fans should note these dates:
- Round of 16 from January 27 to January 30
- Quarter-finals on February 2 and 3
- Semi-finals on February 7
- Third-place playoff on February 10
- Final on February 11
Ranked among the top contenders, Egypt is anticipated to at least reach the quarter-finals. With Salah’s influence, their potential is even greater.
Historically, Egypt is the most successful team in AFCON history with seven titles, though they have not won with Salah on the team.
Salah is also a top contender for the tournament’s highest scorer, alongside Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen.