Liverpool of England winger, Mohamed Salah is in the spotlight ahead of Saturday’s clash between Egypt and Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations, as The Pharaohs’ skipper is reportedly desperate to leave Morocco with a consolation medal.
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Sports247 gathered that Salah has become the prime focus of attention on social media, as he prepares to lead The Pharaohs out against a team whose record of eight AFCON bronze medals his squad aim to challenge on Saturday.
The encounter has been dubbed ‘Battle of Bronze Specialists,’ because Egypt have six in their kitty, but Salah will have to be at his best in trying to marshal his squad to victory against a team that has never lost an AFCON third place match.
A preview by the media department of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) noted in part, “Egypt and Nigeria have the highest tally of AFCON bronze medals, with the Super Eagles having won eight times and Egypt six times.
“Victory for Nigeria will put daylight between the two teams on this score, while victory for Egypt will further narrow the gap between both teams. Remarkably, Nigeria won its first bronze in 1976 at the expense of Egypt.
“Nigeria’s last AFCON bronze-medal accomplishment was realized in Egypt, when Odion Ighalo’s 2nd minute strike was enough to pip Tunisia in Cairo (and) Saturday’s encounter will be the 25th clash between both countries at senior level.
“It will be their 10th confrontation at the Africa Cup of Nations, with Nigeria having won five of the previous nine, with two matches drawn (scoreless draws in Rabat in 1988 and in Tunis six years later).”
Speaking ahead of the game, which will start 5pm Nigeria time in Casablanca, Morocco, Salah’s Dutch coach at Liverpool, Arne Slot said he is happy that the former two-time African Footballer of The Year will soon be back at Anfield.
Slot retorted, “First of all, he needs to play another big game for Egypt on Saturday and then he comes back to us.
“I am happy that he comes back. Mo has been so important for this club, for me, so I am happy that he is back.
“Even if I had 15 attackers I still would have been happy if he came back but that is not our current situation.”
