Penalty Pain for Salah as Nigeria Beat Egypt to AFCON Bronze

‎Mohamed Salah’s Africa Cup of Nations journey ended in disappointment after the Egyptian captain missed a penalty during a shootout defeat to Nigeria in the tournament’s third-place play-off. The match finished 0-0 after normal time before the Super Eagles prevailed 4-2 on penalties.

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Mohamed Salah missed a decisive penalty as Egypt lost to Nigeria on spot kicks in the AFCON third-place play-off, sealing a fourth-place finish.

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‎Salah’s effort was saved by Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, who emerged as the hero of the shootout. Omar Marmoush also failed from the spot for Egypt, compounding the Pharaohs’ misery in the battle for bronze.

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‎Nigeria gained early control of the shootout thanks to Nwabali’s sharp reflexes, denying both Egyptian stars in dramatic fashion. The Super Eagles then converted the final penalty to confirm victory, consigning Egypt to a fourth-place finish.

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‎It was a particularly painful outcome for Salah, who had been central to Egypt’s progress throughout the competition. The Liverpool forward scored four goals in five matches prior to the semi-finals, but his tournament concluded with a saved penalty at a decisive moment.

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‎Egypt’s fourth-place result represents their poorest AFCON finish in more than four decades, last ending outside the medals in 1984.

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‎Salah is now set to return to Liverpool following a period marked by scrutiny and tension after a public disagreement with head coach Arne Slot. In his absence, Liverpool stabilised impressively, going 11 matches unbeaten across all competitions.

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‎The Reds, however, have recently stumbled in the league, drawing four consecutive matches, including a frustrating home draw against relegation-threatened Burnley.

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‎Although talks between Salah and Slot have helped ease tensions, uncertainty lingers over whether the forward will immediately return to the starting XI or be eased back into action—something that may challenge a player accustomed to starting regularly.

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‎Liverpool’s current injury situation, including the absence of Alexander Isak, could prompt Salah’s swift return to the squad. Before departing for AFCON, Salah contributed four goals and three assists in 14 Premier League appearances, representing a slight decline from previous seasons.

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‎Speculation about Salah’s long-term future continues, with his contract running until the summer of 2027 and ongoing interest from the Saudi Pro League adding further intrigue.

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‎Slot previously emphasised Salah’s value to the club, expressing happiness at his impending return while noting ongoing discussions regarding expectations at both club and international levels.

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‎With nearly 600 minutes played at AFCON, Salah may not be ready for Wednesday’s Champions League tie against Marseille. If so, his Liverpool comeback could instead come against Bournemouth in the Premier League.