Injured Mohamed Salah defied Liverpool to lead Egypt to victory, says Pharaohs coach Galal

Galal told a press conference that star forward will have scan before Thursday's Afcon qualifier against Ethiopia after playing in win over Guinea

Mohamed Salah of Egypt in action during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying soccer match between Egypt and Guinea in Cairo, Egypt. EPA

Egypt's players celebrate after scoring their goal against Guinea during their soccer match in Group D 2023 Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers at Cairo International stadium in Cairo, Egypt. Egypt won 1-0. AP Photo

Egypt's Ashour, right, jumps for the ball with Guinea's Naby Laye Keita during their soccer match in Group D 2023 Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers at Cairo International stadium in Cairo, Egypt. Egypt won 1-0. AP Photo

Egypt's Mohamed Salah wipes his face during his team match with Guinea in Group D 2023 Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers at Cairo International stadium in Cairo, Egypt. Egypt won 1-0. AP Photo

Egypt's Mohamed Salah (C) receives a personal award from the Egypt Football Association before the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying soccer match between Egypt and Guinea in Cairo, Egypt. EPA

Egypt's Zizo, right, and Guinea's Conte are seen through the goal net during their soccer match in Group D 2023 Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers at Cairo International stadium in Cairo, Egypt. Egypt won 1-0. AP Photo

Egypt's Mohamed Salah, left, fights for the ball with Guinea's Issiaga Sylla during their soccer match in Group D 2023 Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers at Cairo International stadium in Cairo, Egypt. Egypt won 1-0. AP Photo

Naby Keita (L) of Guinea in action against Egyptian players Emam Ashour (R) during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying soccer match between Egypt and Guinea in Cairo, Egypt. EPA

Omar Marmoush (L) of Egypt in action against Saidou Sow (R) of Guinea during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying soccer match between Egypt and Guinea in Cairo, Egypt. EPA

Naby Keita of Guinea reacts during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying soccer match between Egypt and Guinea in Cairo, Egypt. EPA

Naby Keita (R) of Guinea in action against Egyptian players Omar Gaber (L) and Emam Ashour (C) during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying soccer match between Egypt and Guinea in Cairo, Egypt, 05 June 2022. EPA / KHALED ELFIQI

Egyptian player Mohamed Salah (R) in action against Guinea player Mouctar Diakhaby (L) during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification soccer match between between Egypt and Guinea in Cairo, Egypt. EPA

Egyptian player Mohamed Magdi Afsha (R) in action against Guinea player Ilaix Moriba (L) during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification soccer match between between Egypt and Guinea in Cairo, Egypt. EPA

Egypt's Mohamed Salah is greeted before the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying soccer match between Egypt and Guinea in Cairo, Egypt. EPA

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah defied his club and captained Egypt to a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying victory over Guinea in Cairo at the weekend, according to national team coach Ehab Galal.

Galal, who succeeded Carlos Queiroz as Pharaohs manager in April, told a press conference that Salah rejected a request from his club to have a pre-match scan on the undisclosed injury, but "that will be done now".

"Salah was hit by an injury, but played through it," Galal added.

Liverpool are yet to respond to Galal's comments.

Though Galal did not disclose the nature of Salah's injury, it is thought to be related to the groin issue the 29-year-old suffered during the FA Cup final on May 14.

Salah was substituted after just 33 minutes of the match, which Liverpool would go on to win on penalties. The injury also saw him ruled out of the Reds' Premier League away win at Southampton three days later.

Salah's future at Anfield is still uncertain with he former Roma forward yet to sign a new contract with the club. His current deal runs until June 2023.

Egypt face Ethiopia on Thursday in Malawi capital Lilongwe because their opponents do not have any international-standard stadiums.

Two-time African Footballer of the Year Salah has experienced two major disappointments with record seven-time Afcon winners Egypt this year.

They lost the 2022 Afcon final to Senegal on penalties in February and the following month fell to Senegal again in a shootout, this time in a 2022 World Cup play-off.