Mo Salah out of service for the African Cup of Nations qualifiers

Mohamed Salah will not be available for Egypt’s two Nations Cup qualifying games against Kenya and Comoros due to injury, the country’s football association (EFA) said on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old looked to have aggravated an ankle injury during Liverpool’s impressive 3-1 victory over Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday. He was taken off in the last five minutes, making way for Joe Gomez.

“Medical scans show that Salah won’t be fit for the Kenya and Comoros matches,” The EFA tweeted.

Egypt host Kenya on Thursday before meeting Comoros four days later as they kick off their Nations Cup qualifying campaign.

Salah took his tally to six Premier League goals so far this season when he headed home against City to make it 2-0 inside the first 15 minutes.

https://youtu.be/PKTo84p3GCA

His absence will leave Egypt short of firepower and with little options upfront, given that striker Mostafa Mohamed and winger Ramadan Sobhi are on international duty with the U23 side while Sporting Braga striker Ahmed Kouka is sidelined through injury.

The Pharaohs also lost defensive midfielder Hamdi Fathi to injury after he hurt his knee in Monday’s training session.

Salah is third in Egypt’s all-time top scorers list with 43 goals.