Mohamed Salah was left in tears after Liverpool teammate prevented career dream

Mohamed Salah was left in tears after his Liverpool teammate, Sadio Mane, halted his career dream of winning AFCON for Egypt, one of the few goals the star had yet to accomplish

Mohamed Salah was brought to tears after Egypt lost to Senegal in the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations final(Image: Photo by Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD / AFP via Getty Images)

Mohamed Salah was left in tears after former Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane crushed the Egyptian star's dream.

Egypt holds the record for the most AFCON victories, having won the tournament seven times, though its last title was 16 years ago. For as great as the Liverpool star has been, Salah has yet to lift the trophy himself as he continues to push into the final stages of his playing career.

Still, the 33-year-old came agonizingly close to achieving a career dream of his, which was halted by Mane in 2022.

In that year's tournament, the match between Senegal and Egypt was close throughout, ending in a 0-0 draw. Both sides continued to fight in extra time, though again, neither side were able to break through to win the trophy they so desperately coveted.

Eventually, the matchup went to a penalty shootout, with pressure mounting. Egypt's players missed their first two penalties, setting the stage for Mane to win the trophy for his country.

The Senegalese sensation calmly converted his penalty, which proved to be the game-winning goal, while Salah, the designated fifth penalty taker, was forced to watch and never even given an opportunity. After the heartbreaking moment, Mane approached Salah, and the two shared a moment before the former celebrated in earnest.

Sadio Mane (L) consoled his former teammate Mohamed Salah (R) at the end of the Africa Cup of Nations final(Image: Photo by Adam Haneen/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Speaking of the moment with L'Equipe, Mane shared: "We'd been teasing each other a lot before the Africa Cup of Nations, and I suspected he was bound to be very disappointed. I wasn't about to leave him without a word, though.

"What I did, he would have done the same, even if things had turned out differently. I said something simple to try and comfort him, asking him not to let it get him down."

The intimate moment between the two was a testament to the bond they had built while playing at Liverpool, despite Salah's admission that they were not close off the pitch. Though the Egyptian star built an incredible rapport with the Senegalese legend on the pitch, though, Salah revealed they did not have much of a relationship afterward.

“Yes, there was tension with Sadio,” he revealed to L'Equipe in 2025. “Mind you, we were professional until the end, I don't think it affected the team. It's human to want more, I understand that, he's a competitor. Off the pitch, we weren't very close, but we always respected each other.”

When talking about the criticism he received for his perceived play, the star responded: "I don't care. People can think what they want, it's their right.

“But I invite everyone to note that the person who provided Mane with the most assists is me. We can look at the facts, but it's obviously easier to throw out phrases like that; it makes the headlines, I know how it works.

“As long as it remains within the limits of respect, that's fine with me. But that doesn't mean that this opinion is true. At the end of the day, I know what I did, and my conscience is clear.”