Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush’s AFCON ended in miserable fashion as Egypt lost the third-place final place against Nigeria on penalties – with both Premier League stars missing in the shootout.
The match was forced to penalties after finishing 0-0 in a 90 minutes where Nigeria scored two disallowed goals, and former Everton man Ademola Lookman would go on to net the decisive spot-kick.
Egypt were one of the favourites heading into the tournament, but were knocked out in the semi-final by Senegal thanks to a goal from Salah’s former Liverpool team-mate Sadio Mane.
Salah started Saturday’s match against Nigeria while Marmoush was brought on after 60 minutes, but Egypt toiled in the tie and were largely dominated by the West Africans.
Nigeria had a header disallowed after 38 minutes when Trabzonspor striker Paul Onuachu was adjudged to have committed a foul in the build-up, while Lookman’s goal early in the second-half was ruled offside.
The match was sent to penalties with the sides level at the end of the second 45 and, after Nigeria’s first penalty was saved, Salah stepped up and had the chance to put Egypt 1-0 up in the shootout. But his effort was palmed wide by Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.
Mohamed Salah missed a penalty as Egypt lost the third-place AFCON final against Nigeria
Salah was Egypt’s first penalty taker but missed alongside Man City star Omar Marmoush
Sevilla striker Akor Adams then put his penalty away for the Super Eagles before Marmoush stepped up and also had his effort, side-footed down the middle of the goal, saved by Nwabali.
Despite Egypt scoring from their next two spot-kicks, Nigeria failed to miss through Paris FC winger Moses Simon, Fulham star Alex Iwobi and Atlanta winger Lookman, whose effort into the top left corner secured the bronze medal.
It leaves Salah, one of Africa’s greatest exports, with another AFCON disappointment on his fifth attempt at winning the continent’s most-coveted trophy.
The 33-year-old will, however, have another chance to claim the trophy should he still be playing when the 2027 event gets underway.
But in the meantime, he will return to Anfield to try and get back into the Liverpool starting XI for the first time since claiming he had been ‘thrown under the bus’ by someone inside the club.
Salah did hold one-on-one talks with Reds boss Arne Slot after making the accusations on December 6, and assisted after coming off the bench in Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Brighton before jetting off for AFCON.
Slot says he is excited about the return of the Egyptian and hopes to have him available for their Champions League tie against Marseille on Wednesday.
‘Mo has been so important for this club and me,’ Slot said. ‘So I am happy he is back and even if I had 15 attackers, I would be happy to see Mo back but that is not our situation.’
Marmoush hit his penalty down the middle but it was saved by Nigeria stopper Stanley Nwabali
Former Everton man and Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman scored the winning spot-kick
Meanwhile Mane, who triumphed over Salah when the pair met in the 2021 final, will face tournament favourites Morocco on Sunday night as he eyes a second title with his nation in what is his last AFCON.
Salah and Mane are understood to have had a difficult relationship during their five years together at Liverpool, but the 33-year-old Al Nassr winger was still complimentary of the Egyptian after beating him in the semi-final.
‘It is not easy for him – but still best of luck,’ Mane said.
‘He did everything to carry his team until now. Unfortunately one of us had to [lose]. I’m happy [to be] in the final.’
