Egypt are Africa’s most successful footballing nation, but they have failed to win AFCON with Mo Salah in their squad
Mohamed Salah’s international legacy has once again come under scrutiny after Egypt’s elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations, extending a stark record that continues to haunt one of the continent’s greatest-ever players. Despite Egypt being Africa’s most successful footballing nation, Salah has still not lifted AFCON during his illustrious international career.
The latest setback came with Egypt’s exit at the semi-final stage of AFCON 2025 to Senegal by a solitary goal – to add salt to the wounds, the scorer was his former Liverpool teammate Sadio Mané, in a game that was billed as a battle between the two forwards.
The latest eliminations adds another chapter to a deeply frustrating timeline. Since emerging as a global superstar, Salah has been present for multiple tournaments without managing to guide the Pharaohs to continental glory.
The numbers are unforgiving. Egypt failed to qualify for AFCON in 2012, 2013 and 2015 during Salah’s early international years. When they did return to the tournament with him as their talisman, the outcomes remained painful. Egypt lost the final in 2017, were eliminated in the Round of 16 in 2019, lost another final in 2021 (again to Mané and Senegal), exited again in the Round of 16 in 2023 and have now fallen short in the semi-finals in 2025.
Salah’s AFCON record with Egypt:
- AFCON 2012: Failed to qualify
- AFCON 2013: Failed to qualify
- AFCON 2015: Failed to qualify
- AFCON 2017: Lost in the final
- AFCON 2019: Round of 16
- AFCON 2021: Lost in the final
- AFCON 2023: Round of 16
- AFCON 2025: Semi-finals
These repeated near-misses have reignited debate about Salah’s standing in international football, particularly in light of comments made late last year following his public frustration at Liverpool.
After being left out for a third consecutive match during a turbulent period at Anfield, Salah voiced his anger following a dramatic 3-3 draw with Leeds United. “I’m not happy about the situation, that’s clear,” Salah said at the time. “I’m always ready to help the team, but decisions are not in my hands.”
Carragher and Okocha comments reignite the debate
Those comments prompted Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher to question Salah’s mindset and legacy on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football in November 2025. “He’s the greatest player his country has ever had in Egypt,” Carragher said. “Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations are the most successful nation. Mo Salah has never won the AFCON.
“That isn’t me trying to put him down as a player, but what it tells him and his agent is that it’s not about an individual. No matter how good a player you are, you need help from your team-mates, your manager and fans. It’s really important he remembers that.”
Carragher’s remarks were heavily criticised at the time, with many accusing him of unfairly singling out Salah. Yet two months later, Egypt’s latest failure has lent weight to the argument that individual brilliance alone is not enough on the international stage.
Former Nigeria captain Jay-Jay Okocha echoed similar sentiments in the build-up to Egypt’s semi-final defeat. “In Africa you might win whatever trophy with your club, if you don’t win anything for your nation, they don’t regard you as a legend,” Okocha said on Channel 4 Sport.
History suggests that even the greatest players do not always get everything their talent deserves. Lionel Messi faced similar criticism before finally winning the Copa America in 2021 and the World Cup in 2022. For Salah, time is running out to rewrite his AFCON story, and until he does, this brutal record will continue to define the most frustrating gap in an otherwise extraordinary career.