It’s been a turbulent week for the Egyptian, who made headlines all over the world following his explosive comments in the aftermath of Liverpool’s 3-3 draw at Leeds United.
Tensions were eased on Saturday, however, when Salah marked his return to the Reds squad with an assist in a 2-0 victory over Brighton - the perfect tonic ahead of a huge month in Morocco.
Salah’s attention now shifts to his long-running pursuit of a first AFCON title with Egypt, as the Pharaohs begin their campaign against Zimbabwe on December 22nd.
It's the latest chapter in a roller-coaster journey for the 33-year-old, who has suffered his fair share of heartbreak on the international stage.
This time around, supported by the likes of Omar Marmoush and Mostafa Mohamed, he'll be more desperate than ever to make up for previous disappointments and lead his nation back to the pinnacle of African football.
A tale of near misses
Having made his debut for the senior national team in 2011, Salah had to wait until 2017 to compete in his first AFCON, with Egypt failing to qualify for three successive tournaments in 2012, 2013 and 2015.
That followed a remarkable period of success for the Pharaohs, who, led by the likes of Ahmed Hassan and Mohamed Aboutrika, won three straight AFCONs between 2006 and 2010.
Salah’s failure to qualify for Africa’s premier international competition wasn’t for a want of trying, with the winger scoring 29 goals in his first 46 caps from September 2011 to the end of 2016.
Determined to make up for lost time, he starred at the 2017 edition in Gabon, leading Egypt all the way to the final, where they agonisingly fell short to a late Cameroon winner.
Scoring twice and registering a further two assists across Egypt’s six matches, Salah’s performances earned him a spot in the CAF Team of the Tournament, while underlining his status as one of the continent’s best players.
A big-money move to Liverpool followed in the summer of 2017, and after a spectacular record-breaking debut campaign at Anfield, he looked in prime shape to spearhead Egypt’s hopes at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
It was the Pharaohs’ first participation in a World Cup finals since 1990. However, Salah was forced to miss their opening group game against Uruguay, owing to a shoulder injury inflicted by Sergio Ramos in the UEFA Champions League final.
Salah returned for the rest of the group stage, but despite scoring against hosts Russia and Saudi Arabia, he was powerless to prevent his nation from departing the tournament without picking up a single point.
Attention quickly shifted to a home AFCON in 2019, with hosts Egypt among the strong contenders for the title.
Victories over Zimbabwe, D.R. Congo and Uganda in the group stage (with Salah scoring in the latter two) provided further encouragement, but the hopes of a nation were then dashed in the Round of 16 when Egypt fell to a shock defeat against South Africa.
Salah had officially been named captain of his country by the time AFCON 2021 came around, with the forward more determined than ever to get his hands on silverware.
However, it was another case of so near and yet so far for Egypt in Cameroon, with the Pharaohs falling at the final hurdle for the second time in four years.
Senegal’s winning penalty in the shootout was converted by Salah’s Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane, who also netted the decisive spot-kick a year later to beat Egypt in the final round of 2022 World Cup qualification.
The disappointment of that double blow was compounded at AFCON 2023, where Salah was forced to withdraw from the competition after just two matches.
Having struck a late penalty in Egypt’s group opener to become the first Egyptian to score in four different Cup of Nations, Salah sustained a hamstring injury just four days later to end his tournament.
In the absence of their talismanic captain, Egypt scraped through the group stage before being beaten in the Round of 16 by eventual semi-finalists D.R. Congo.
Cementing his legacy
Despite falling short in Africa’s premier competition, Salah remains a revered figure in Egypt.
The 33-year-old has 109 caps for the Pharaohs, scoring 63 times and winning African Footballer of the Year in both 2017 and 2018.
What’s more, Salah is only five goals shy of Hossam Hassan’s all-time scoring record for Egypt - a total he will surely surpass in 2026.
However, for all his achievements on the international stage, Salah knows better than anyone the importance of delivering an AFCON title for his nation.
It’s been a stick to beat him with over the course of his career, especially with club success at Liverpool often putting him in the running for the prestigious Ballon d’Or trophy.
Getting over the line at a major tournament would not only strengthen Salah's hand in such debates, but it would also cement his place alongside Egyptian greats such as Aboutrika, Hassan and Essam El-Hadary.
One thing's for sure, it would be foolish to doubt Salah. As he's shown throughout his life, previous failings and setbacks can be used as a source of motivation rather than a barrier to success.
He might be turning 34 next year, but given his immaculate physical condition and his desire to keep playing at the very highest level, there's every chance his crowning moment for Egypt is just around the corner.
Winning an elusive AFCON title in Morocco would certainly do the trick...
