‘Afcon is tough for everyone,’ Mo Salah says after Egypt win

Following Egypt’s 2-1 win against Morocco in the Nations Cup quarterfinals, star forward Mohamed Salah has said the tournament is a tough one but hopes the Pharaohs can “carry on til the end.”

Salah, who plays for club football for Liverpool in England and is widely considered as the best player in the world at the moment, had a slow start to the Africa Cup of Nations.

The 29-year-old, before the quarterfinals, had just a goal to his name. He, however, produced a better performance against Morocco, netting a goal and grabbing an assist to send Egypt to the semis.

Answering a post-match question from Omasports about how the tournament has been for him so far, Salah said: “I think it’s tough for everyone – like you see Algeria lost in the group stage which they won it last time. They had a great team and they lost. Senegal qualified from the group with one goal. I’m not saying bad about them, I’m just saying the tournament is tough for everyone.

“It was tough for us in the beginning but we just adapt. Nigeria was the best team in the group stage but they are out – so you never know in any game.”

Egypt, seven-time champions, face hosts Cameroon in the semifinals, and Salah says they have to shift their focus to that game and hopes his side can “carry on till the end.”

“Now’s the time to focus again, it’s Cameroon and we go from there,” he said. “The players gave everything today, they give everything each game and hopefully we just carry on till the end.”