Egyptian Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah (AFP)
Egypt and Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah has tested positive again for the COVID-19 after undergoing a second swab on Friday on the eve of Egypt’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Togo.
“Salah’s first test came positive and under our medical protocol he had to take another test later on Friday and it came positive too,” Egyptian Football Association (EFA) president Amr El-Ganainy told Egyptian satellite channel CBC extra on Friday.
“All the other players and staff members of the national team tested negative. Salah will remain in Egypt until he recovers. He is in a very good condition physically and morally and hasn’t experienced any symptoms. He is currently in self isolation and we informed Liverpool of the situation and our protocol” he added.
The EFA had announced earlier on Friday that the 28-year old had tested positive for COVID-19 as part of the routine PCR test conducted before the games.
“Our international star is to follow the medical protocol after the coordination between the national team doctor and Liverpool, in addition to isolating him in his room and also isolating all who were in contact with him,” read a statement on the EFA official Facebook page.
EFA concluded its statement that the player will undergo more tests during the upcoming period.
Later on the EFA deleted the post from their social media accounts and posted a new one stating that three players from Egypt and Togo, without naming them, have tested positive for the coronavirus.
The new statement added that they will redo their PCR tests to decide whether or not they will participate in the game.
A source in the EFA told local website filgoal that they pulled off their first statement because they should have waited for the result of the second test before announcing the news. He revealed that Salah has already undergone the test and that they are waiting for the result.
Mo arrived in Egypt on Monday to join the Egyptian national team camp ahead of Togo’s game and trained first with the team on Tuesday.
He attended his brother’s wedding on Monday in Cairo where he was seen in pictures and video footage dancing in the ceremony while surrounded by the audience.
He was also awarded the Inspirer award by the EFA in a ceremony held on Wednesday.
Egypt will host Togo on 14 November before travelling to Lome to play the fourth round of the 2022 AFCON qualifiers on 17 November.
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