Mohamed Salah: The Egyptian King – where it all began for the Liverpool star

Salah has played for the senior national team for 14 years and his importance to Egypt is such that high-ranking government officials are said to be involved when he is injured.

“I even got a call from the Egyptian health minister,” recalled Dr. Mohamed Aboud, the national team physician when Salah fell ill. Serious shoulder injury in LiverpoolDefeat to Real Madrid in the 2018 Champions League final could see him miss the World Cup in Russia a few weeks later.

“I told him not to panic, everything is going well.”

Speaking from his medical clinic in the Madi area of ​​Egypt’s capital, Dr Aboud added: “I was young and the pressure from inside the country was intense.

“I got calls from so many people to help me. One of our board members told me I was one of the most important people in the entire world right now.

“This situation has changed me as a person.”

For the record, Salah recovered to play in two of his country’s three group games but could not prevent Egypt from a quick exit after defeats to Uruguay, Russia and Saudi Arabia.

“I want to tell you that Salah was involved in every goal in our 2018 World Cup qualifiers,” former Egypt assistant coach Mahmoud Fayez said at his home on the outskirts of Cairo.

Salah scored a dramatic goal 95th minute penalty A 2-1 win over Congo in Alexandria sealed Egypt’s place at the World Cup for the first time in 28 years with one qualifying game remaining.

Salah gave Egypt the lead three minutes before Congo equalized in a nail-biting game.

“You know when you can hear silence? I heard silence when Congo scored – 75,000 fans and silence everywhere,” added Faiz.

Then came the penalty that made Salah a national hero.

“Imagine, a nation of nearly 120 million waiting to qualify right now,” Faiz said. “He had one of the toughest and toughest moments for a player, a penalty in the 95th minute that Mohamed had to score.

“He scored and he made us all proud. Afterwards in the dressing room he started dancing, hugging everyone and he kept shouting ‘we did it, we did it’, after 28 years, we did it.”

is in Cairo A football academy called ‘The Maker’, Founded and managed by Ex Tottenham and Egyptian striker Mido, who is hoping to develop a following in Salah’s footsteps.

“I played for the national team in front of 110,000 people when I was only 17 years old, the youngest player to represent Egypt,” Mido said. “I feel that people rely on me and Salah is the same.”

At the time of our visit, a classroom lesson was being held for young players about the mindset required to be a top professional.

A coach wrote ‘discipline, dedication and motivation’ below Salah’s name on a whiteboard.

“The reason Salah is where he is now is because he works on his mental strength every day,” added Mido.

“He is the greatest ambassador for Egypt and also for African players. He has forced European clubs to respect Arab players, that’s what Salah has done.

“I think a lot of clubs in Europe now think of Salah when they see a young player from Egypt. He’s a dream for our young players.”