Liverpool
talisman and Egypt international Mohamed Salah may have ruled out the
possibility of Super Eagles making it to the finals of this year's African Cup
of Nations in Egypt.
The two time
African footballer of the year rather predicted that the Pharaohs will play Taranga
Lions of Senegal in the final.
Interestingly Senegal international Sadio Mané who missed the African
football of the year gong by whiskers is Salah's teammate at Liverpool and will
be expected to lead Senegal in the continental battle of supremacy billed for 15
June and 13 July.
Salah is not
only looking forward to Egypt who were handed the hosting right after Cameroon
was disqualified hosting a very impressive tournament but also hoping that the Pharaohs
will make it all the way to the final and win the trophy.
The 27 year
old who had close to a rough ride at the World Cup in Russia, is eager to inspire
his nation to the AFCON title, the 8th time they will be winning it if his
dream comes to pass.
"It’s
very exciting to play at home and we will do our best to win the title,"
Salah said on King Fut.(an English-based Egyptian website providing a variety
of news and statistics for the sports in Egypt, especially the local football
and covering the Egyptian expatriate footballers news).
The
left-footed attacker predicted that they will face West African giants Senegal
in this year's final.
“I think we
will face Senegal in the final," the former AS Roma and Chelsea winger
continued.
“This is the
best time for Egypt to host the tournament. We may not have the best league in Africa,
but we can be the best from now,” he added.
Egypt are
the most decorated team in the history of the AFCON competition having won a
record seven titles. The last time they won the tournament was in 2010.
Super Eagles
who qualified for the tournament with a match against Seychelles to spare in March
missed the last two editions and will be hoping to bounce back to reckoning in
the land of the pharaohs.
Although Coach
Gernot Rohr has not expressly been mandated to win the tournament many believe
it is one title the team should aspire to win after a below par performance the
World Cup in Russia.
The last
time Nigeria won the title was in 2013 in South Africa, beating Burkina Faso by
a lone goal in front of 85,000 spectators under late Super Eagles coach Stephen
Keshi.
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