Emotional Mo Salah ‘hints at international retirement’ after Egypt’s World Cup qualifier heartbreak
EMOTIONAL Mo Salah has apparently hinted he is to retire from international football following Egypt’s World Cup heartbreak.
The 29-year-old Liverpool star missed his penalty in the shootout defeat against Senegal in Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier against Senegal.
Salah was targeted by lasers from the home fans as he stepped up to take his spot-kick before blazing his effort high over the bar.
He was also hit by missiles while being escorted off the pitch, and there have even been claims he was subject to racist chants.
Egypt’s defeat was just the latest heartbreak for Salah on the international stage after they lost to Senegal in the Afcon final on penalties last month.
It was his second defeat in an African Cup of Nations final after Egypt lost to Cameroon in 2017.
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And now Salah apparently has doubts over whether he wants to carry on competing for the Pharoahs.
In footage circulating on social media, Salah can be seen addressing his team-mates in Arabic after their latest loss to Senegal.
He was also said to be in tears after the game.
According to Egyptian website Filgoal, he says: “I told the players before the second match that I am proud to play with them and they are among the best I have played with.
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“I played for some time with the previous generation, with Wael Gomaa and Mohamed Abu Trika, then Abdullah Al-Saeed and his generation, but I’m happy with the current generation.
“I am proud to play with you and it was an honour for me, and what happened cannot be interfered with by anyone because for the second time it is a penalty shootout (after the Afcon final).
“There is not much I can say but it has been an honour to play with you, whether I will be in the national team after that or not.”
Interrupting him, Egyptian Minister of Sports, Ashraf Sobhi, remarked: “You will be there.”