Roy Keane and Ian Wright reacted to Liverpool forward Mo Salah missing out on a World Cup spot with Egypt.
The Manchester United legend stated that there are going to be some ‘brilliant players’ missing from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, as he told ITV Sport (29/03/22 at 11:15 pm).
It was a sense of Deja vu for Salah on Tuesday night and all for the wrong reasons.
Weeks after Senegal narrowly pipped Egypt to the Africa Cup of Nations crown on penalties, the same happened again, with Liverpool’s speed king blazing his spot-kick over the bar.
Whilst Sadio Mane, with his AFCON medal around his neck, is heading to Qatar, it means that Salah will be staying at home in November.
This is what both Wright and Keane had to say about that news involving Liverpool’s £34 million star last night (BBC Sport).
“The CAF (Confederation of African Football), it’s very tough to qualify out of,” said Wright. “You have 54 countries and five spots.
“You are going to miss out on a Salah at a World Cup. You feel for him, but at the same time, you have to win your games. He missed his penalty and I am hearing a lot of stuff about how he missed it (referencing to the lasers aimed at his face).
“But the fact is that it’s tough. No Nigeria. No Egypt. It seems very tough on the African nations.”
Keane added: “It’s tough going. Not every team can qualify for it, unfortunately. I am sure they will bounce back.
“There are going to be some brilliant players missing from that World Cup. But that’s just the nature of the beast, so that’s tough going.”
Salah is at the peak of his powers and it’s a crying shame that he won’t be on the world’s biggest stage showcasing his talent.
Liverpool fans will be hoping that the Egyptian flyer will instead release all of his anger out onto the domestic stage during these final few months of the season.
On one hand, the Reds can have an angry Salah ready to rip it up, whilst Mane will be flying high and full of confidence.
Use it correctly and it can bode well for this Jurgen Klopp team aiming to add multiple trophies to their cabinet this term.
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