Egyptian legend says Mohamed Salah led the whole World Cup campaign

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Tuesday Nov 21, 2017. 12:30

Egyptian legend Hazem Emam has praised the Pharaohs and Liverpool player Mohamed Salah, labeling him as s hero after their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification.

Emam helped the North African nation to win the 1998 Nations Cup and earned 87 caps for Egypt.

He says Salah must be credited for the country's qualification to the global showpiece.

The Reds winger played a crucial role in their penultimate World Cup qualifier as he scored twice to beat Congo 2-1 in October - a result which confirmed their ticket to the tournament.

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"Salah is the man behind our qualification to the World Cup," Emam said to the BBC.

"When we qualified in 1990, it was more of a team effort. This time, Salah was the leader of the whole campaign.

"Nobody in the history of Egypt has reached such a level in world football and been so successful with the national team."

Meanwhile, Salah had a hand in all seven of the goals that took the Pharaohs to Russia, scoring five and assisting in two as coach Hector Cuper's men returned to the tournament for the first time since 1990.

The speedy winger also continues to make waves in the English Premier League after netting a brace for the Reds as they beat Southampton 3-0 at home on Saturday.