AFCON 2025: Salah drops bombshell as Egypt prepare for Bafana Bafana showdown

Egypt captain Mohamed Salah has sent shockwaves through the football world just weeks before the Africa Cup of Nations kicks off, admitting he feels “thrown under the bus” by Liverpool after being benched in their 3-3 Premier League draw with Leeds United on Saturday.

The 33-year-old forward, who will spearhead Egypt’s charge in Group B against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana, lashed out at the club and manager Arne Slot, claiming he has been scapegoated for Liverpool’s poor start to the season and hinting that his time at Anfield may be coming to an end.

“I’ve done so much for this club, everybody can see that during the years and especially last season,” Salah told reporters. “I don’t know, it seems like the club is throwing me under the bus. That’s how I feel.”

Salah’s frustration comes despite his glittering record at Liverpool, 250 goals in all competitions, two Premier League titles, and a legacy that made him one of the club’s greatest-ever players. But with just five goals and three assists in 19 games this season, the Egyptian icon admits his relationship with Slot has broken down completely.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen now,” he added. “I’ll say goodbye to the fans before going to the Africa Cup of Nations because I don’t know what will happen when I’m there.”

For Egypt, Salah’s turmoil adds an intriguing subplot to their AFCON campaign. Group B is already shaping up as one of the tournament’s most competitive, with Bafana Bafana eager to exploit any cracks in the Pharaohs’ armour when the two sides meet.

SALAH PLAYED HIS LAST LIVERPOOL MATCH?

The fallout has escalated, with manager Arne Slot dropping Salah from the squad for Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Inter Milan, citing the Egyptian’s explosive post-match comments as the reason for his omission.

Slot, under mounting pressure after Liverpool’s poor run, admitted he has “no clue” whether Salah will play for the club again, while reports suggest Saudi Pro League clubs are circling for a January move. Liverpool’s board, however, have thrown their full support behind Slot, insisting his authority will not be undermined despite Salah’s claims that promises made to him in the summer were broken.

For Egypt, the timing could not be more dramatic. Salah remains Africa’s biggest star, will now shift focus to AFCON 2025 in Morocco, where the Pharaohs are drawn in Group B alongside South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe. The headline fixture? Egypt vs Bafana Bafana on December 26 at Adrar Stadium in Agadir, a Boxing Day blockbuster that could decide the group’s fate.