Penalty Pain for Salah as Nigeria Beat Egypt to AFCON Bronze

‎Mohamed Salah suffered a bitter end to his Africa Cup of Nations campaign on Saturday night after missing a crucial penalty in Egypt’s shootout defeat to Nigeria. The Pharaohs were ultimately beaten 4-2 on penalties following a goalless draw in the third-place play-off, leaving them fourth in the tournament.

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‎Mohamed Salah endured late AFCON heartbreak after missing a penalty as Egypt lost a shootout to Nigeria in the third-place play-off, finishing fourth for the first time since 1984.

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‎The Liverpool forward stepped up during the shootout but saw his effort stopped by Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. Salah was not alone in disappointment, as fellow Egyptian and Manchester City attacker Omar Marmoush also failed to convert his spot kick.

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‎Egypt’s bronze medal hopes unravelled quickly during the shootout, with Nigeria seizing the early advantage through Nwabali’s heroics. The Super Eagles goalkeeper produced two outstanding saves to deny both Salah and Marmoush, setting the tone before Nigeria converted the decisive penalty to secure victory.

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‎The result marked Egypt’s worst AFCON finish since 1984. Despite the painful ending, Salah had been instrumental throughout the tournament, registering four goals in five matches before the semi-final stage. However, his final involvement saw his penalty comfortably repelled by Nwabali.

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‎Attention now turns to Salah’s return to Liverpool following a challenging season that included criticism and a high-profile disagreement with manager Arne Slot. During Salah’s absence, the Reds enjoyed an 11-game unbeaten run across all competitions and showed signs of recovery after a turbulent spell.

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‎Liverpool recently recorded their fourth successive league draw, having been held at Anfield by relegation-threatened Burnley. Although discussions between Salah and Slot have eased tensions, questions remain over whether the Egyptian star will immediately reclaim a starting role or be required to work his way back into the lineup.

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‎Injuries within the squad, including striker Alexander Isak, may accelerate Salah’s reintegration. Prior to AFCON, he had recorded four goals and three assists in 14 Premier League appearances—figures slightly below his usual standards.

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‎Uncertainty also surrounds Salah’s long-term future, with his contract set to expire in the summer of 2027 amid continued links to a move to the Saudi Pro League.

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‎Before the third-place match, Slot spoke warmly about Salah’s importance, stressing his eagerness to welcome the forward back while outlining ongoing discussions regarding expectations on both club and international fronts.

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‎Salah’s role upon return remains unclear. Having played close to 600 minutes at AFCON, Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Marseille could arrive too soon, with a possible comeback instead pencilled in for the Premier League meeting against Bournemouth.