Egypt forward Mohamed Salah has hinted that he could retire from international football after failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The 29-year-old fell to Sadio Mane’s Senegal in a play-off, missing a penalty in the final shoot-out after being targeted by what felt like 1,000 laser pointers.
After the game, local media report Salah gave a rousing speech in the dressing room in which he suggested he may not be part of the team in future.
“I spoke with the players in the dressing room before the second leg and told them that I am proud to play with them and they are one of the finest groups I have played with,” he began.
“I have spent some time with the previous generations with Wael Gomaa and Mohamed Aboutrika as well as the Abdallah El Said generation and I am very happy with the current crop.
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“Whether or not I am available in the future, I am proud to have been your team-mate. It was an honour for me.”
Salah was quickly interrupted by an Egyptian official, who insisted: “You’ll be with us.”
Egypt fell to Senegal in the final of the African Cup of Nations earlier this month, again on penalties, with the damage being done before Salah could even step up and take his spot kick.
“I won twice and he lost twice, I was luckier to come out on top,” Mane said of his victories over Liverpool team-mate Salah.