Salah won't be rested for the remaining African qualifiers: Egypt's assistant coach Salgado

Ahmed Abd El Rasoul, Saturday 20 Oct 2018

Salah
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during the match (Photo: Reuters)

Despite securing a place in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finals, Egypt star winger Mohamed Salah won't be rested for the remaining two matches of the qualifiers, according to assistant coach Michel Salgado.

"Salah was the one who decided to remain on the pitch after picking up the injury in the first leg against eSwatini. We didn't ask him to continue playing," Salgado told Al Arabiya TV Channel early on Saturday.

Egypt eased past eSwatini 2-0 on Tuesday in Manzini to qualify for next year's Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon, despite resting influential winger Salah due to injury.

The Liverpool star was injured in the 4-1 home victory in Cairo four days earlier.

"We decided not to risk him in the return match and he was sent to his club in England. He is ready now to play with his team in the English Premier League," Salgado explained.

"Salah is an idol for every player in Egypt and Africa. He is important for the Egyptian team and, despite the fact that Liverpool would welcome resting him in the reaming qualifiers, we will continue depending on him to end our campaign as the group leaders," the former Real Madrid star added.

Egypt, the seven-time African Champions, are second in Group J of the 2019 AFCON qualifiers with nine points and are set to face the group's leaders Tunisia in the 5th round on 16 November, before facing Niger in the final match.

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