Mohamed Salah is set to depart for Morocco this week to lead Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, doing so amid growing uncertainty surrounding his future at Liverpool. While the Egyptian star remains a central figure for his national side, his club situation has become one of the most closely watched storylines in European football.
Salah featured off the bench in Liverpool’s recent 2-0 Premier League victory over Brighton, where he made an immediate impact by assisting Hugo Ekitike for the second goal. Despite the contribution, the decision to leave him out of the starting lineup added fuel to ongoing speculation regarding his standing under manager Arne Slot.
Following the match, Slot attempted to downplay the situation, stating there was “no issue to resolve” with his star forward. However, questions persist after Salah’s visible frustration in recent weeks, particularly following his public comments after being benched during the draw against Leeds. His claim of being “thrown under the bus” raised eyebrows and sparked debate about a potential January transfer.
The 33-year-old has now been left out of Liverpool’s starting lineup in three consecutive matches and was omitted entirely from the squad for the Champions League win over Inter Milan. While Liverpool remain cautious in their public messaging, the timing of Salah’s departure for AFCON has intensified discussion about whether this tournament could mark a turning point in his Anfield career.
Despite the club-level tension, Salah continues to deliver when called upon. His professionalism and match-changing quality remain undeniable, and Egypt will once again rely heavily on his leadership as they chase continental glory. For Salah, AFCON offers both an opportunity to focus on football and a brief escape from club-level scrutiny.
Elsewhere in England, African players made notable contributions over the weekend. Nigeria’s Calvin Bassey found the net for Fulham in a historic 3-2 victory over Burnley, their first win at Turf Moor since 1951. His close-range header marked his first goal since March and highlighted his growing influence at the club.
At Nottingham Forest, Ivory Coast midfielder Ibrahim Sangare capped a dominant 3-0 win over Tottenham with a stunning late strike. The goal, his first in seven matches, came at a crucial time as Forest continue their fight to avoid relegation.
In Spain, Nigerian duo Akor Adams and Chidera Ejuke celebrated their AFCON call-ups in style, both scoring as Sevilla dismantled Real Oviedo 4-0. Their performances underlined Sevilla’s attacking depth and Nigeria’s growing talent pool heading into the tournament.
Germany also saw African stars shine. Mohamed Amoura scored for the second consecutive match as Wolfsburg claimed a 3-1 win at Borussia Moenchengladbach, while Ramy Bensebaini salvaged a point for Borussia Dortmund with a powerful finish against Freiburg.
In France, Algeria’s Himad Abdelli and Cameroon’s Harouna Djibirin were on the scoresheet as Angers secured an emphatic 4-1 victory over Nantes, further showcasing African impact across Europe ahead of AFCON.
As Salah joins his international teammates, his club future remains unresolved. Whether AFCON becomes a moment of reset or a prelude to major change at Liverpool remains to be seen, but the spotlight will firmly follow Egypt’s captain throughout the tournament.
