Former Liverpool team-mates, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane meet, for the sixth time in international football at the Africa Cup of Nations tonight.
11:30, 14 Jan 2026Updated 22:16, 14 Jan 2026
Mohamed Salah has been told he has to win the Africa Cup of Nations if he is to be regarded as a legend. Salah's Egypt are in Africa Cup of Nations semi-final action against Senegal tonight.
The game will see the Liverpool forward come up against his former Reds team-mate Sadio Mane. The pair met in the 2022 final, with Mane claiming bragging rights on that occasion after Senegal won in a penalty shootout.
The two famously clashed during Liverpool's victory over Burnley back in 2019, when the Senegalese took issue with the Egyptian opting to shoot rather than passing him the ball in the box before being withdrawn.
But Salah, unlike Mane, is yet to get his hands on the AFCON trophy, and both Jay-Jay Okocha and John Obi Mikel have a warning for the Liverpool man.
"This man here will be looking to get his hands on this tournament, because he hasn't won it," Mikel said. "You can talk about the Premier League and the Champions League, but he has to win the AFCON."
While Okocha warned: "In Africa you might win whatever trophy with your club, if you don't win anything for your nation, they don't regard you as a legend."
Speaking after his side's victory over Ivory Coast at the weekend, Salah said: "It was a perfect win, but as I said before, we are fighting for our country.
"Hopefully we go through the next game as well, it's against a tough opponent, but we will give our best. We are fighting so hard, you can see the players, nobody is holding anything back. We are just carrying on."
Before leaving for Egypt's Africa Cup of Nations campaign, Salah apologised to his team-mates after his outburst following the 3-3 draw with Leeds United that cast doubt over his future at the club.
Clubs in the Saudi Pro League are interested in signing Salah, but former Barcelona Gaizka Mendieta reckons the forward would be the perfect signing for Real Madrid.
He said: "Mohamed Salah to La Liga? It might depend on the contract. He isn't a young player, but we have seen experienced players like Robert Lewandowski be a success here in recent years.
"He has proven that players over 30 can come to Spain and offer so much with their experience. Barcelona might not be able to make the finances work, but Real Madrid have a spot on the right-hand side that could be a perfect fit for Salah.
"Barca have Lamine Yamal, but Salah can be flexible. I think Salah would strengthen both clubs if he were to come to Spain - it just depends on the contract."