After a hard‑fought semi‑final loss in Tangier, Egypt fell to Senegal and Sadio Mané. The 33‑year‑old Mohamed Salah scored four goals in five matches, but the team failed to reach the final for the first time since 2010. A quiet smile masked deep disappointment in the afternoon lights of the stadium crowd.

Back home, Liverpool manager Arne Slot faces a dilemma. Salah’s recent public spat over benching and a month‑long absence have left the club’s attack thin. With Alexander Isak injured and Conor Bradley out, the Reds look to slot the forward back into a starting role for the season ahead of.

Egypt’s next match, a third‑place playoff against Nigeria, will keep Salah in Morocco until Sunday, delaying his return to Anfield. Fans and pundits will watch how Slot integrates him amid injury woes, while Salah eyes the 2027 AFCON in East Africa and a potential 2028 World Cup campaign for Egypt.