Mohamed Salah consoles crying teammate as Egypt suffer double AFCON blow

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Mohamed Salah was in last-16 action at the Africa Cup of Nations for Egypt against Benin on Monday, and two Egypt players suffered what looked like tournament-ending injuries

Mohamed Salah during Egypt versus Benin at AFCON(Image: AFP or licensors)

One of Mohamed Salah's Egypt teammates was taken off on a stretcher after suffering what appeared to be a serious knee injury during the Africa Cup of Nations last-16 clash between Egypt and Benin.

With the game goalless and approaching half-time, Liverpool star Salah's teammate, Mohamed Hamdy, jumped to challenge for an aerial ball but hurt himself as he landed. Replays showed Hamdy's knee appeared to give way, and he was in a significant amount of pain before he was carried off the field.

Egypt was handed a further blow in the second half as Trezeguet was forced off. The former Aston Villa striker was consoled by Liverpool legend Salah as he left the pitch in tears, clearly fearful that his tournament might be over.

The winner of the game between Egypt and Benin will play either the Ivory Coast or Burkina Faso in the quarterfinal on January 10.

What's the latest on Salah at Liverpool?

Salah's ill-advised chat with reporters at Elland Road seems a long time ago now.

But it was only last month that he accused the Reds of throwing him under the bus this season, while also saying that he no longer had a relationship with Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.

A few days after that outburst, Salah was dropped from the Liverpool squad altogether for a Champions League trip to Inter Milan.

But he found himself back in the squad for the following game against Brighton.

Salah was reintegrated at Liverpool before the AFCON(Image: 2025 Getty Images)

Slot said that it was an easy decision to restore the 33-year-old to the squad, suggesting that the pair have patched things up.

The legendary forward produced one of his brightest performances of a difficult season after coming on in the first half for the injured Joe Gomez.

However, although the situation has seemingly improved, we will not know just how sustainable it is until Salah returns from AFCON.

The Egyptian is not afraid of voicing his discontent, and if he continues to largely be used as a substitute upon his return to club action, there is a good chance that the storm will return.

Salah is contracted to Liverpool until 2027.

But the prospect of a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia could loom large in 2026 if Salah fails to regain his place in the team as a regular starter.