It was a largely successful time with his national team for Salah. The prolific forward broke a long-standing record with a four-goal haul against Djibouti and now after two matches Egypt sit top of their World Cup qualifying group.
However, the flashpoint came in the Pharoah’s second fixture away to Sierra Leone, when multiple home supporters entered the field of play during and after the match. “I felt worried after more than one fan came on to the field because the number of police on the field was small, but thank God, God covered them,” admitted Al-Dirandali, who watched closely as the incidents unfolded.
Though according the the chief, it was not the supporters’ aim to harm Salah when they raced towards him.
He continued: “It was not intentional because they wanted to shake hands with Mohamed Salah, but it could have caused harm.” The Liverpool man’s national team-mates performed a barrier around the 31-year-old when the pitch was invaded during the match, whereas at full-time armed police got involved to help escort Salah into the dressing room and away from potential danger.
Owing to the fact that Sierra Leone’s own facilities are undergoing a revamp, the World Cup qualifier took place at the Samuel Kanyon Doe in nearby Liberia’s capital Monrovia.
This was Egypt’s final match of the break, and the calendar year of 2023. Salah will now return to the AXA Training Centre to rejoin his Reds team-mates in preparation for Saturday’s trip to Manchester City.
Egyptian FA vice-president Khaled Al-Dirandali has thanked God that Liverpool star Mohamed Salah was not harmed when fans stormed the pitch toward him on international duty.
