LONDON: Mohamed Salah will cement his place alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as one of the world’s elite players this summer, Egypt team-mate Omar Gaber believes.
African Footballer of the Year Salah’s form for club and country in 2017 drew comparisons between Messi and Ronaldo after the forward became an instant hit for Liverpool in the Premier League and was integral to Egypt reaching their first World Cup since 1990.
The Pharaohs’ hopes of emerging from a group stage featuring Saudi Arabia, Uruguay and hosts Russia in the summer will rest largely on Salah’s shoulders after the 25-year-old netted five goals in six games during the decisive qualifying round.
But Gaber -— bidding to earn a place alongside Salah in Egypt’s World Cup squad — is confident that the Liverpool man will handle that responsibility and shine on the biggest stage.
Gaber said: “There’s no doubt for me that he’s one of the best three players in the world alongside Messi and Ronaldo, and he will show that in the summer.
“He had a lot of pressure on him that he had to take his country to the World Cup, but he did it. He really helped the national team to achieve this qualification.”
Gaber knows Salah well after they were both part of the same Egyptian team to play in the 2011 Under-20s World Cup.
And despite ex-Chelsea man Salah enjoying such a successful return to the Premier League after his £39 million ($55 million) summer move from Roma, Gaber insists it has not changed his character.
“He’s such a great, genuine guy and still so humble, despite all the goals he’s scored,” added the midfielder.
Mohamed Salah can be ‘as good as Messi and Ronaldo’, says Egypt team-mate
Mohamed Salah can be ‘as good as Messi and Ronaldo’, says Egypt team-mate
Saudi Arabia lose to Morocco in final group match of Arab Cup
- Green Falcons had already qualified for quarterfinals
- Oman eliminated despite victory over Comoros
DOHA: Morocco booked their place in the Arab Cup knockout stages after defeating Saudi Arabia on Monday, but Oman’s victory over Comoros in their final group game was not enough to keep their campaign alive.
Needing only a draw to progress, Morocco took all three points against the Green Falcons, who missed a crucial second-half penalty.
The Saudis, already through to the knockouts, made several changes and began brightly, coming close to opening the scoring inside six minutes when Saleh Abu Al-Shamat’s looping header clipped the crossbar.
Despite the early pressure, Morocco kept their composure and took the lead when Tarik Tissoudali teed up Karim El-Berkaoui to put the Atlas Lions in front.
Saudi Arabia pushed for an equalizer and were handed a golden opportunity midway through the second half when Amin Zahzouh fouled substitute Abdullah Al-Hamdan inside the penalty area.
But the striker’s attempt at a “Panenka” sailed over the crossbar.
In the group’s other match, Oman defeated Comoros but were eliminated after failing to make up the required goal difference.
Knowing victory alone would not be enough, Oman began aggressively, creating a string of first-half chances through Issam Al-Sabhi, Zahir Al-Aghbari and Jameel Al-Yahmadi, only to be denied by profligacy and Comoros goalkeeper Ali Ahamada.
The breakthrough arrived in calamitous fashion just before the interval as Ahamada was dispossessed by Al-Sabhi inside the 6-yard box, allowing the forward to shoot into an empty net.
Al-Sabhi then doubled Oman’s lead with a header just before the break.
Comoros rallied after the break through a fine individual effort from Nassuir Hamidou to reduce the deficit, but further chances went begging and Oman held on for victory.
Despite finishing with four points, Oman bowed out of the competition, while Comoros concluded their debut Arab Cup campaign with three straight defeats.
