Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is praying Egypt to crash out in the group stages of the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast, LCSoccerHub Reports.
Egypt are among top favorites to win 2023 AFCON. They finished as runners-up in the last edition, losing to Senegal in the final.
The Pharaohs are expected to go all the way to challenge for the title again as the continental showpiece kicks off on January 13.
However, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is hopeful the seven time winners of the competition would crash out in the group stages of the competition.
In a quote shared by OneFootball, Klopp said;
“Hopefully, they [Egypt] crash out in the group stage.”
LCSoccerHub understands Klopp’s hope that Egypt exit 2023 AFCON in the group stages is related to Liverpool missing their key man Mo Salah to the continental showpiece.
The Premier League set January 1 deadline for all Premier League clubs to release African players for the tournament as demanded by their national teams.
Mo Salah was among players who left for their national team camp ahead of the AFCON tournament following the Premier League order.
He has been a key player for Liverpool, shouldering the goalscoring task of the team, hence missing him for a few Liverpool matches is not sitting well with Jurgen Klopp.
If Egypt crash out at the group stages of the tournament, Mo Salah is more likely to return to action with Liverpool early than expected.
Egypt are in the same AFCON group with Ghana, Mozambique, and Cape Verde. They are tipped to qualify from the Group alongside Ghana.
