Egypt and Roma striker Mohamed Salah said on Monday that Egypt's road to the 2018 World Cup is "'very difficult".
"Egypt? We want to qualify for the World Cup of 2018. Now we're first in the group and we have to try to stay there. The qualifiers are very difficult," the 24-year-old player said on Monday.
He made the comments at the International Sports Conference in Dubai, where he was handed the award for Best Arab Player of the Year by FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Salah helped Egypt into the lead of Group G last month when he scored a goal in the Pharaohs' precious 2-0 home win over Ghana.
Egypt is bidding for its first World Cup appearance since 1990, and leads its group with six points, two clear of Uganda, while Ghana are third on a solitary point ahead of pointless Congo.
Egypt, which has not lost in any home World Cup qualifiers since 2004, faces Uganda next in two home and away matches in 2017. The Pharaohs are competing in the African Cup of Nations in Gabon in January for the first time since they won their seventh title in 2010.
Salah also spoke about his club side, saying he "feels great" at Roma.
"At Basel, I was good. That was the best club possible for me at that moment in my career. Now I feel great at Rome. Italian football is very different from English, but I have to say that I learned a lot in the Premier League," Salah said.
The former Chelsea star has been in outstanding form for Roma this season, having scored eight goals in 16 Serie A appearances so far.
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