African Stars in Europe: Salah Heads to AFCON as Liverpool Future Remains Unclear

Mohamed Salah is set to travel to Morocco this week to lead Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with questions still swirling around his future at Liverpool.

The 33-year-old forward came off the bench during Liverpool’s 2-0 Premier League win over Brighton and provided the assist for the second goal. After the match, manager Arne Slot insisted there was “no issue to resolve” with Salah, despite ongoing speculation following the Egyptian’s angry outburst last weekend and his recent spells on the substitutes’ bench.

Salah had been omitted entirely from Liverpool’s squad for their Champions League win over Inter Milan and has started the last three matches as a substitute. His public claim that he had been “thrown under the bus” has fuelled talk of a possible January exit from the Premier League champions.

AFP Sport rounds up African players making headlines across Europe:

ENGLAND

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Salah made an immediate impact against Brighton, setting up Hugo Ekitike’s goal after coming on early in the first half. His future at Anfield remains uncertain as he prepares to captain Egypt at AFCON.

Calvin Bassey (Fulham)
The Nigeria defender scored as Fulham edged Burnley 3-2, netting the club’s second goal with a close-range header from a Harry Wilson cross. It marked Fulham’s first league win at Turf Moor since 1951 and Bassey’s first goal since March.

Ibrahim Sangaré (Nottingham Forest)
Ivory Coast midfielder Sangaré sealed Forest’s 3-0 victory over Tottenham with a superb strike in the 79th minute, bending the ball in off the post. It was his second goal of the season and helped boost Forest’s survival hopes.

SPAIN

Akor Adams, Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla)
Both Nigerian forwards marked their AFCON call-ups with goals as Sevilla cruised to a 4-0 La Liga win over Real Oviedo. Adams opened the scoring in the fourth minute, while Ejuke wrapped up the rout late on.

GERMANY

Mohamed Amoura (Wolfsburg)
Amoura scored for the second consecutive match in Wolfsburg’s 3-1 Bundesliga victory at Borussia Mönchengladbach. The 25-year-old now has six goals and two assists in the league this season.

Ramy Bensebaini (Borussia Dortmund)
The Algerian defender scored Dortmund’s only goal in a 1-1 draw with Freiburg, firing home from close range after latching onto a Yan Couto free-kick.

FRANCE

Himad Abdelli, Harouna Djibrin (Angers)
Algeria’s Abdelli converted an early penalty, while Cameroonian Djibrin struck late on as Angers thrashed Nantes 4-1 in Ligue 1. Both goals were their second of the league campaign.

As AFCON approaches, several African stars are hitting form in Europe, with Salah’s situation at Liverpool remaining one of the tournament’s biggest off-field talking points.

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