Egyptian football icon, Mohamed Zidan is hoping Mohamed Salah will lead the Pharaohs to end their Africa Cup of Nations drought.
The North Africans are the most successful team in the competition’s history, having won the tournament a record seven times since its inception in 1957.
However, the title has eluded them in the last seven editions, with their most recent triumph coming in Angola 2010, where they defeated Ghana 1-0 in a tightly contested final, decided by Gedo’s late strike.
As Egypt prepares for their 27th appearance at the biennial African showpiece in Morocco, the three-time AFCON winner is hoping the Premier League icon will inspire the country to end their 15-year wait.
“Salah has already accomplished so much – he’s won the Champions League, the Premier League, been named Premier League Player of the Year, and was the top scorer. We truly hope he can now lead Egypt to victory in the African Cup,” Zidan, who is a Borussia Dortmund legend told Flashscore.
“I truly hope so. I sincerely wish Egypt can reclaim the African Cup of Nations, especially after my generation won it three times in a row – 2006, 2008, and 2010. Since then, Egypt have yet to win it again,
“We reached the final in two tournaments but unfortunately lost both. Since 2010, we’ve lost two finals, and I truly hope Egypt can bring the trophy back home once again.”
Salah is the second-highest goal scorer in Egyptian football history, with 59 goals in 103 appearances, just ten short of Hossam Hassan’s all-time record.
