SALAH IS TO DEPART FROM THE EGYPT TEAM AND RETURN TO LIVERPOOL TO RECOVER FROM AN INJURY.

The Egypt Football Association announced on Sunday that Mohamed Salah would be withdrawing from the team competing in the Africa Cup of Nations to continue recovering from a hamstring injury at his club, Liverpool. However, they expressed hope that Salah would be able to return to the competition in Ivory Coast.

Salah will go to the UK after the Egyptian Football Association's game against Cape Verde on Monday.

"After communication between the Egyptian medical staff and their Liverpool counterparts, we have agreed that the player will return to the UK to continue his treatment, hoping to return to the Egypt team for the semi-finals."

Following comments made by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp that it "makes sense" for the 31-year-old to have treatment in England, the news was made.

Asked if Salah would now return to Merseyside, Klopp replied, "That's the plan," following Liverpool's 4-0 victory over Bournemouth on Sunday.

I'm not sure if it has been decided upon in its entirety. Yet that's the strategy. Everyone, I believe, is probably aware that it makes sense for him to be receiving treatment with us or our staff.

Salah was previously ruled out of the Pharaohs' pivotal Group B match on Monday in Abidjan against Cape Verde, as well as the tournament's last-16 match, should they advance.

The Egyptian FA now seems content to be without him until a potential semi-final on February 7, having originally thought he would return for a quarter-final.

If Salah can demonstrate his health while Egypt is still in the tournament, Klopp will leave the door open for him to return.

"If Egypt qualifies for the final and he is fit before the final, then probably yes," Klopp said. "Not at all? That much is obvious."

The record seven-time African champions must defeat Cape Verde to ensure their spot in the round of 16 after drawing their first two games in the competition.

In Egypt's inaugural match, Salah saved a 2-2 draw against Mozambique from the penalty spot before hobbling off in the first half of the draw against Ghana.

The player's newest unfortunate turn of events at the AFCON is his injury.

He has never taken home the trophy and has lost in the championship game twice, to Senegal two years ago and Cameroon in 2017.

Salah expressed his continued belief that he will be named the African champion "sooner or later" at a press conference on Sunday.

The two-time African footballer of the year stated, "I have won everything possible but not this one yet."

"It will happen somehow, that is what I believe, and whatever I believe I achieve, so sooner or later it will happen."