Salah Remains Convinced He Will Win the Africa Cup with Egypt ‘Sooner or Later’ 

Egypt's forward #10 Mohamed Salah reacts during a press conference at the Palais de la Culture in Abidjan on January 21, 2024 on the eve of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) football match between Egypt and Cape Verde. (AFP)
Egypt's forward #10 Mohamed Salah reacts during a press conference at the Palais de la Culture in Abidjan on January 21, 2024 on the eve of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) football match between Egypt and Cape Verde. (AFP)
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Salah Remains Convinced He Will Win the Africa Cup with Egypt ‘Sooner or Later’ 

Egypt's forward #10 Mohamed Salah reacts during a press conference at the Palais de la Culture in Abidjan on January 21, 2024 on the eve of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) football match between Egypt and Cape Verde. (AFP)
Egypt's forward #10 Mohamed Salah reacts during a press conference at the Palais de la Culture in Abidjan on January 21, 2024 on the eve of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) football match between Egypt and Cape Verde. (AFP)

Despite his injury and Egypt’s underwhelming start to the Africa Cup of Nations, Mohamed Salah is still convinced he will win the tournament "sooner or later."

The two-time African player of the year has never won the Africa Cup, coming closest at the last edition and in 2017 when Egypt lost in the final on both occasions.

"I’ve won everything possible but this is the one I did not, yet," the Liverpool star said Sunday. "It will happen somehow. That’s what I believe. And whatever I believe, I achieve. So, it will happen. Sooner or later, it will happen."

To make sure Egypt advances to the knockout stage of the current edition in Ivory Coast, the "Pharaohs" on Monday first need to beat Group B winner Cape Verde – and without the injured Salah.

Salah has a hamstring injury from Egypt’s 2-2 draw with Ghana and is expected to sit out two games.

"We’re not doing great at the moment, but we are a fantastic team, we have a great coach. So we just need to stay focused and have a good vision and be positive. And I believe with the hard work, everything will be possible," Salah said.

Egypt has won more Africa Cup titles than any other country, but Salah said the team was determined to extend its record to eight trophies.

"I think everybody knows what it means to any player to win the Africa Cup. We’re always proud to wear that shirt," Salah said. "We were unlucky at the last one, the one in Gabon (in 2017) also, a bit unlucky. I think the players are very motivated to win the tournament. We all want to win it."

Egypt is not the only pre-tournament favorite to be struggling to reach the knockout stage. Also in Group B, Ghana needs a win against Mozambique to maintain its hopes of progressing. The top two in each group advance to the last 16, while the best four third-placed finishers in each group also progress.

Host nation Ivory Coast and Nigeria face anxious games Monday against Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, respectively, in Group A.

Cameroon, Algeria and Tunisia are among the potential title candidates struggling.

"It’s really tricky," said Salah, who noted that improving standards were making games more unpredictable.

"I think the African football is improving a lot. You also saw at the World Cup, we went so far with Morocco and the whole of Africa was behind them. So, I think it’s improving a lot."



Dembélé Scores 2 and Donnarumma Injured as PSG Beats Monaco to Increase French League Lead

Paris Saint-Germain's Portuguese forward #09 Goncalo Ramos (C) celebrates scoring his team's third goal with Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #10 Ousmane Dembele (R) and Paris Saint-Germain's South Korean midfielder #19 Lee Kang-in during the French L1 football match between AS Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain at the Louis II Stadium (Stade Louis II) in the Principality of Monaco on December 18, 2024. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP)
Paris Saint-Germain's Portuguese forward #09 Goncalo Ramos (C) celebrates scoring his team's third goal with Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #10 Ousmane Dembele (R) and Paris Saint-Germain's South Korean midfielder #19 Lee Kang-in during the French L1 football match between AS Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain at the Louis II Stadium (Stade Louis II) in the Principality of Monaco on December 18, 2024. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP)
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Dembélé Scores 2 and Donnarumma Injured as PSG Beats Monaco to Increase French League Lead

Paris Saint-Germain's Portuguese forward #09 Goncalo Ramos (C) celebrates scoring his team's third goal with Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #10 Ousmane Dembele (R) and Paris Saint-Germain's South Korean midfielder #19 Lee Kang-in during the French L1 football match between AS Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain at the Louis II Stadium (Stade Louis II) in the Principality of Monaco on December 18, 2024. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP)
Paris Saint-Germain's Portuguese forward #09 Goncalo Ramos (C) celebrates scoring his team's third goal with Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #10 Ousmane Dembele (R) and Paris Saint-Germain's South Korean midfielder #19 Lee Kang-in during the French L1 football match between AS Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain at the Louis II Stadium (Stade Louis II) in the Principality of Monaco on December 18, 2024. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP)

Runaway leader Paris Saint-Germain opened a 10-point lead at the top of the French league standings before the year-end break with a 4-2 defeat of Monaco on Wednesday in a match marred by Gianluigi Donnarumma's injury.
Ousmane Dembélé scored a brace and striker Goncalo Ramos put PSG back in the lead with seven minutes left as he headed in a corner after coming in as a substitute in the lively encounter at the Stade Louis II, The Associated Press reported.
Monaco remained in third place, level on points with second-place Marseille, which has one match in hand.
Donnarumma’s face was bloodied after being hit by an opponent’s cleat. The Italy international took the studs of Wilfried Singo’s cleat in the 17th minute. Singo, whose shot had been blocked, tried to jump over the sliding Donnarumma but instead struck his face.
Pictures showed that Donnarumma was cut below his right eye. Singo, who had already been warned, was lucky to avoid a red card.
Donnarumma was left lying on the pitch while receiving treatment. He finally stood up and walked away to be replaced by Matvey Safonov.
Désiré Doué had put PSG in front in the first half before Eliesse Ben Seghir leveled from the penalty spot after the interval and Breel Embolo gave Monaco the lead at the hour mark.
Dembélé then scored his first goal of the evening from a rebound in the 64th minute. He added more luster to PSG's win deep in stoppage time when he completed his brace.
The match was brought forward because of a scheduling conflict with the Trophée des Champions between the two clubs on Jan. 5 in Doha during the weekend that the French league resumes.