By Michael Madyira
Egypt will have to prove they can thrive without star man Mohamed Salah when they face DR Congo in an Africa Cup of Nations last-16 tie at Stade Laurent Pokou on Sunday.
After drawing 2-2 with Cape Verde without the Liverpool star in their last Group B match, the Pharaohs are set for another tricky test against DR Congo.
Salah is nursing a hamstring injury and his fitness situation has been a major talking point since he limped off against Ghana on 18 January.
Egypt coach Rui Vitoria is now forced to plan without his captain as the North Africans bid for an eighth Afcon title, and the first since 2010.
But Salah is adamant he will recover to complete the tournament with his teammates, although that is subject to the North Africans getting past DR Congo as well as the attacker recovering early.
“I started the treatment and rehabilitation program,” Salah wrote on X.
“And I will do everything possible to be ready as soon as possible and return to the national team as was agreed upon from the beginning… I also love it and its people… try harder.”
Egypt are yet to record a win at this Afcon edition following identical 2-2 draws in all their three group games against Mozambique, Ghana and Cape Verde.
They come up against DR Congo who also failed to win their group matches after drawing 1-1 with Zambia before posting a similar result against Morocco.
The Leopards then concluded their pool campaign by drawing 0-0 with Tanzania.
Meanwhile, just before Egypt and DR Congo clash, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea clash in another round of 16 tie at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara on Sunday.
Equatorial Guinea are flying high after finishing on top of Group A which also featured Nigeria and hosts Ivory Coast.
They confront the Syli Nationale who qualified for the last-16 as one of the best third-placed teams after falling behind Senegal and Cameroon in Group C.
Pictured above: Egypt star Mohamed Salah
Image source: Mohamed Salah on X
