The Egyptian captain says having one of the top players in the world is “a huge deal” for both the team and the country
Mohamed Salah deserves to be recognised as one of the best three players in the world, according to Egypt captain Ahmed Elmohamady.
Salah enjoyed another fine season with Liverpool, scoring 27 goals in all competitions to help his club win the Champions League.
Now, the forward will try to lead Egypt to an eighth Africa Cup of Nations title beginning on Friday.
Elmohamady said Salah deserved his place among the world’s best, alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
“Salah is now one of the best three players in the world. This is a huge deal for the country and the Egyptian team,” he told a news conference.
“Salah being on any team will help it and be a great addition. Everybody anticipates his performance, so this is a positive thing and a good addition for the Egyptian team.
“As has been said, Salah is one of the 23 players on the list. Each player will help the others.
“We play as one team, but having Salah with us is a positive thing and an important thing for us as a team and as players.”
The country boast the most AFCON titles with seven and narrowly lost out in the final of the last competition in 2017, falling in the final to Cameroon.
But they are trying win it on home soil to end a drought that has now lasted nearly a decade, with their last championship coming back in 2010.
The side will also be looking to put a disappointing 2018 World Cup, which saw Salah struggle through injury and the African side lose all three matches in the group stage, behind them.
Salah, despite suffering an injury in the Champions League final against Real Madrid ahead of the World Cup, still managed to score both of his side’s goals in Russia, netting in a 3-1 loss to Russia and a 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia.