Mohamed Salah declared clearly after leading Egypt into the semifinals that winning the Africa Cup of Nations is the ultimate goal of his football career.
On 11 January 2026, Mohamed Salah, captain of the Egyptian national team, spoke passionately after guiding the 'Pharaohs' to a narrow 3-2 victory over Ivory Coast in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals, advancing to the semifinals against Senegal.
The Liverpool star admitted this is one of his best times with the national team and firmly stated that no one in Egypt desires this championship more than he does.
“I believe this is the best national team camp of my career. The atmosphere is great, everyone is happy and fully focused,” Salah said after the match.
The 33-year-old forward openly revealed the personal motivation still missing in his illustrious career.
“I truly believe that no one in Egypt wants to win the Africa Cup of Nations more than I do. I have achieved everything in my career except this trophy.”
Salah also emphasized his leadership role and admitted he has borne all the pressure alone to prevent it from affecting his teammates.
“Putting pressure on other players doesn't help anyone. I have carried this pressure for a long time and I’m ready to take on even more in the coming weeks to make this dream come true.”
Egypt is set to face Senegal in the semifinals, a rematch of the 2021 final, marking another significant test in Mohamed Salah’s quest for a modern AFCON title.