Egypt seeking the first AFCON title in 16 years, in what could be Salah’s last chance

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‘The Egyptian King’ in search of redemptionEgypt will face Zimbabwe in their group opener in the African Cup of Nations in Morocco on Monday (22 December), and the objective for the tournament is clear: lift the trophy for the first time in 16 years.The teams will face in their first game in group B in Morocco at 9pm (8pm UK time), while South Africa and Angola, the other two from the same group face each other three hours prior. Egypt is the national team with most AFCON titles, having won it a record seven times, however it has been quite some time since they last lifted the trophy.When did Egypt last win the AFCON?The was no Mohamed Salah in the team back then, when Egypt last triumphed in 2010.

Meaning the Premier League star, known as ‘The Egyptian King’ among the Liverpool faithful, has never won the African Cup of Nations.Whether this will be the last realistic chance for him to put his hands on the trophy is what will be going through many people’s minds, including Salah himself, and it comes at a tumultuous time for the player, following the recent developments at club level.Salah, 33, obviously faces the pressure of carrying his nation, as his influence is unmatched on the pitch.The difficulties of Egypt in MoroccoBut where Salah and his team might face difficulties is the ageing squad and the team in transition, with the new generation yet to show consistency that is required for a tournament as grand as the AFCON.Egypt came short in the 2021 AFCON, suffering a heartbreaking defeat to Senegal on penalties in the final, with then-Liverpool teammate of Salah, Sadio Mané scoring the winning penalty for Senegal.Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah in the 2022 AFCON final (Getty Images)The AFCON in Morocco might well define the Egypt and Liverpool forward’s legacy across Africa, even if he does not need AFCON glory to cement his legacy.This will be Salah’s fifth Africa Cup of Nations and his third as captain, but Egypt aren’t even considered among the favourites to end as triumphant in the competition.Salah has been heavily criticised in the past, including by a former Egypt national team coach who accused the Liverpool legend of “not doing anything” for the national team.Salah has scored 63 goals in 109 international appearances for the Pharaohs and had previously hinted at retiring from international football after Egypt’s AFCON defeat.The AFCON in Morocco is not only one where he wants to turn his season around and finally win the biggest trophy in the continent, but also one where he can finally silence his critics.Salah isn’t the only national team legend not to have won the AFCON, however. Didier Drogba is one of them, having failed to win the trophy by suffering heartbreak by losing finals on penalties twice, in 2006 and 2010, even though he led the greatest Ivorian generation in history.

Ivory Coast would then go and win it just one year after his retirement, in 2015.George Weah, while being the only African footballer to have won the Ballon d’Or, never managed to lift the trophy with his national team, Liberia. Both times he appeared at the AFCON, his national team failed to pass the group stage.Nwankwo Kanu, the former Arsenal striker enjoyed a glittering club career but the closest he came to winning the trophy with Nigeria was in the 2000 final, when his penalty miss proved costly against Cameroon.Another big name is Michael Essien, who failed to win the title with Ghana in three attempts, in spite of his illustrious club career, particularly in the Premier League.But Salah, who has recently felt isolated at club level and scrutinised at home, will feel that there is no player with more to prove than him at this African Cup of Nations.