Egypt Beat Togo Without Salah

JOHANNESBURG: Without Mohamed Salah, Egypt exploded through defender Mahmoud el Wensh to beat Togo 1-0 in Cairo today in the 2021 African Cup qualifying campaign.

Liverpool prolific striker Salah tested positive for COVID-19 after arriving in Cairo for an international assignment and subsequent tests found similar results.

In addition to missing two games in a row against Togo, he could also be ruled out for the next two matches for the club, against leaders Leicester City in the Premier League and Atalanta in the Champions League.

One did not show any symptoms and the medical staff of the Egyptian Football Association are already in touch with their Liverpool counterparts.

The two-time African Player of the Year award was less fortunate in the African Nations Cup campaign, after suffering an injury against Kenya in November last year that left him sidelined against Comoros.

El Wensh – also known as Mahmoud Hamdy and Mahmoud Attia – beat goalkeeper Malcolm Barcola in the 54th minute through a header after Togo failed to remove the ball from a free kick.

It gave Egypt, who are also seven-time African champions, their first win in Group G after a draw against Kenya and Comoros.