Egypt's football organization said on Sunday that Mohamed Salah will withdraw from the Africa Cup of Nations team in order to continue receiving treatment at his club, Liverpool, for a hamstring injury. Despite this, they hope to see Salah back at the competition in Ivory Coast.
"Salah will attend (Monday's) game against Cape Verde and then will travel to the UK," the Egyptian Football Association said. "After communication between the Egyptian medical staff and their Liverpool counterparts, we have agreed that the player will return to the UK to continue his treatment, hoping to return to the Egypt team for the semi-finals."
Salah has already been ruled out of the Pharaohs' final-16 encounter, should they advance, and Monday's pivotal Group B meeting against Cape Verde in Abidjan.
Salah told a press conference on Sunday he remains convinced he will be crowned champion of Africa "sooner or later".
"I have won everything possible but this one not yet," said the two-time African footballer of the year.
"It will happen somehow, that is what I believe, and whatever I believe I achieve, so sooner or later it will happen."