The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) is under scrutiny following reports of a smear campaign against Liverpool’s star player, Mohamed Salah, during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Egypt faced a disappointing exit in the round of 16 after a penalty shootout loss to DR Congo in San Pedro.
Salah, who played a crucial role for Egypt, suffered a hamstring injury in a match against Ghana after completing the full 90 minutes against Mozambique.
The EFA’s response raised eyebrows when they released a statement detailing Salah’s injury and suggesting he could return if Egypt reached the final.
The controversy deepened when Liverpool’s manager, Jurgen Klopp, announced Salah’s return to the club for treatment, sparking discontent among Egyptian fans and pundits.
Journalist Hany Hathout revealed that the backlash against Salah was orchestrated by EFA officials, who allegedly used social media to damage his reputation.
Salah, upon returning to Liverpool training, discovered evidence of the campaign against him, as an admin from an undisclosed page sought approval from an EFA official to criticize him.
This revelation fueled constant attacks on Salah and ultimately led to his decision to leave Egypt’s AFCON camp and return to Liverpool, leaving lingering questions about the EFA’s handling of the situation and its impact on the relationship between Salah and Egyptian football.
