Mo Salah rested for final AFCON group game with qualification confirmed

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Mohamed Salah was left out of Egypt’s starting lineup for their final group game at the Africa Cup of Nations, with his goals having secured a place in the knockout stages. 11 for the duration of Egypt’s AFCON campaign, which has been extended after they became the first team to secure a place in the round of 16.

Egypt will play their last 16 tie on January 5 should they win their group, which will be against one of the best third-placed sides. Progress to the quarter-finals would then see Salah play on January 10 before a potential semi-final on January 14.

If Salah does reach the final four, however, he will not return to Merseyside until after January 18 as AFCON will have a third-place playoff on January 17, a day before the final. Should Egypt go the distance, Salah’s first possible game back would be against Marseille in the Champions League on January 21, though that could also be deemed too early.