It is hard to recall an Africa Cup of Nations so geared towards a single coronation. For the first time since the turn of the millennium, a reigning African Footballer of the Year finds his country hosting the continent’s most watched sporting festival. Make no mistake: it is Egypt’s event but it is set up as the Salah show.
Mohamed Salah’s face peers down from multiple billboards and murals across the land. He is chief custodian of a nation’s anxious but enthusiastic intention to mark a symbolic comeback.
First, the politics: this is an Egypt entrusted, at short notice, with a major international event just four years after its stadiums were reopened, following a long ban caused by horrific violence, spilling over from the social unrest of the Arab spring.
Mainly, there’s the football. Egypt used to be the lordly governors of the Cup of Nations, seven times champions and serial winners in 2006, 2008 and 2010. Then came the plummet: failure to qualify for any of the three Cup of Nations between 2012 and 2015, a symptom of a vibrant football culture in collapse, on and off the pitch.
From the back of beyond, a saviour would emerge. The last time Egypt was preparing to host a Cup of Nations, in 2006, Salah was an intrepid 13-year-old with unusual dedication to his sport.
He covered many miles for the love of it: Salah’s commute to practice with the juniors of the El Mokawloon club in Nasr City, east Cairo, involved a four-hour journey, hopping from bus to bus, from his village, Nagrig.
He would repeat it, there and back, several days a week, after morning school. He did his homework while travelling, and played at wing-back, midfield, or wherever they asked. He did so well that, in time, his coaches arranged for bed and lodgings closer to club, signalling a professional career was within grasp.
Salah made his first-team debut for El Mokawloon three months after Egypt won the 2010 Nations Cup. He was 17, and over the next 18 months his speed, close control and strength on the ball established him as a rising star.
But his career path would be abruptly detoured by national crisis. The Port Said tragedy, in which 72 people died in rioting and crushing, at a February 2012 match between Masry and Al Ahly, led to the wholesale suspension of the Egyptian league.
For an aspiring young talent like Salah, the route to professional progress now had to be in exile. His good luck was to be already earmarked for a role with Egypt’s under-23s at the 2012 Olympic Games.
A friendly game in Switzerland was arranged, in the immediate post-Port Said crisis. Basel were the opposition, Salah came on as a substitute and scored twice. A few weeks later he was signing a four-year contract with Basel.
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Premier League players on show at 2019 Africa Cup of Nations
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Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, Egypt): Another excellent season for the Egyptian king at club level. The forward notched 22 Premier League goals to share the Premier League Golden Boot while his successful penalty in the first minute of the Uefa Champions League final set Liverpool on their way to a 2-0 win over Tottenham in the Madrid final. As hosts of this year's Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt will be strong favourites to win a record extending eighth Afcon title. Getty Images -
Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal, Egypt): Made only 17 appearances for Arsenal in 2018/19, eight in the league. Underused by Unai Emery, Elneny, 26, will hope to end the campaign on a high by lifting the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil. Reuters -
Ahmed Elmohamad (Aston Villa, Egypt): Marauding right-back with more than 80 Egypt caps will be back in the Premier League next season after helping Aston Villa win promotion via the Championship play-off final. Getty Images -
Arthur Masuaku (West Ham United, DR Congo): Masuaku, 25, made 23 Premier League appearances as West Ham secured a top-half finish. Represented France at Under 18 and 19 level before switching allegiance to DR Congo in June 2017. Made his debut in the 2-1 home defeat to Zimbabwe in 2019 Afcon qualifying. Reuters -
Yannick Bolasie (Everton, DR Congo): A move to Everton in August 2016 was wrecked by a serious knee injury that December. Has spent time on loan at Aston Villa and Anderlecht over the past two seasons. The winger has scored nine goals in 33 international appearances. Reuters -
Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace, Ivory Coast): Another excellent season for the 26-year-old forward in the Premier League, where he reached double figures for goals for the first time in n his career. Ivory Coast hopes of winning Afcon for a third time rest largely on Zaha's shoulders. Getty Images -
Jean Michael Seri (Fulham, Ivory Coast): Supposedly coveted by Barcelona last summer, the midfielder, 27, was a huge disappointment in the Premier League as Fulham were relegated. Reuters -
Serge Aurier (Tottenham Hotspur, Ivory Coast): Failed to establish himself at right-back ahead of Kieran Trippier since moving from Paris Saint-Germain in 2017. Searing pace is an asset going forward but is too often caught out defensively. Reuters -
Jonathan Kodjia (Aston Villa, Ivory Coast): The striker, 29, scored nine goals in 39 appearances as Aston Villa clinched a route back to the Premier League via the Championship play-offs. Has scored an impressive eight goals in 17 appearances for Ivory Coast. Getty Images -
Steve Mounie (Huddersfield Town, Benin): Goals proved a problem in the Premier Legaue for the French-born frontman, but goals against Gambia and Togo in Afcon qualifying helped Benin reach the finals in Egypt. AP Photo -
Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace, Ghana): More pragmatic than prolific, Ayew, 27, will have a job securing a place in Kwasi Appiah's line up with brother Andre and Asamoah Gyan also vying for places. Reuters -
Christian Atsu (Newcastle United, Ghana): Twenty-seven Premier League appearances for Atsu, who can operate on either wing, as Newcastle secured another season of Premier League football. Astu's last goal for Ghana came in June 2016. Reuters -
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Fulham, Cameroon): Could well be regarded as one of the worst signings in Premier League history. Anguissa, was hardly seen as Fulham were relegated from the Premier League with several games to spare. Has two goals in 15 appearances for the Indomitable Lions. Getty Images -
Gaetan Bong, left (Brighton & Hove Albion, Cameroon): Dependable left-back who missed out on Cameroon's Afcon title success two years ago. AFP -
Wilfred Ndidi, right (Leicester City, Nigeria): One of Leicester's standout players as the Foxes finished ninth in the Premier League under Brendan Rodgers. Ndidi's energy sees him cover plenty of ground and gets his team further up the pitch. Reuters -
Alex Iwobi (Arsenal, Nigeria): A losing Europa League finalist with Arsenal as Chelsea humiliated their London rivals in Baku last month. Iwobi has the skill to unlock tight defences but lacks end product. EPA -
Leon Balogun, left (Brighton & Hove Albion, Nigeria): Was always going to struggle to break up the tried-and-tested centre-back partnership of Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy. Has 27 international caps for Nigeria, who are seeking a first Afcon title since 2013. Getty Images -
Naby Keita (Liverpool, Guinea): Showed glimpses of his power and energy from midfield duirng an indifferent first season at Liverpool. No doubt the 24-year-old midfielder is a world-class operator on his day. AFP -
Ibrahima Cisse, left (Fulham, Guinea): Failed to establish himself under three different managers at Fulham during 2018/19. Scored in the 2019 Afcon qualifying win over Rwanda as Guinea finished ahead of Ivory Coast at the top of Group H. Getty Images -
Sadio Mane (Liverpool, Senegal): A sensational season for Liverpool, Mane carried the team to the brink of the Premier League crown and was their best player in Europe as Jugen Klopp's side won the Uefa Champions League title. Mane terrorises defences with his searing pace and notched 26 goals in another prolific campaign. Will need to transfer that form to international level if Senegal are to lift a first Afcon title, where Mane has a modest return of only two goals in his last 11 appearances for his country. EPA -
Idrissa Gueye (Everton, Senegal): A destroyer of opposition attacks, Everton reportedly rebuffed Paris Saint-Germain's overtures to lure the Senegalese midfielder to the French capital in January. Reuters -
Cheikhou Kouyate (Crystal Palace, Senegal): A rangy and athletic player who covers plenty of ground. The 29-year-old midfielder has 46 caps for his country and will be one of Senegal manager Aliou Cisse's generals on the pitch. Reuters -
Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City, Algeria): Winger Mahrez has tarted only 14 league matches since a £60 million (Dh278.7m) summer move to English champions Manchester City. Made his international debut in 2014, featuring in his country’s opening group match at the 2014 Fifa World Cup. To date, Mahrez has 43 caps, scoring 10 goals. Getty Images -
Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspur, Kenya): Since suffering a serious knee injury in 2017, the burly midfielder has struggled to recapture the sort of form that made him one of the Premier League's most formidable defensive screens. On his day is one of the toughest competitors around. AFP -
Romain Saiss, centre (Wolves, Morocco): Able to operate in defence or midfield, Saiss' versatility will be a welcome addition to Herve Renard's squad, who are looking to build on a strong showing at the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia. Reuters -
Yves Bissouma (Brighton & Hove Albion, Mali): Was at the forefront as Brighton battled for their Premier League lives in the final third of the season. Bissouma's combative approach will add bite to Mali's midfield. Reuters -
Marcelo Djalo, left (Fulham, Guinea-Bissau): Centre-back, 25, was on Real Madrid's books for three years as a youth team player before a series of moves across Europe. Spent the 2018/19 season on loan at Extremadura in Spain's second division, making 12 appearances. Getty Images
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So, out of adversity began the odyssey of Egypt’s greatest football pioneer. From Basel, to Chelsea, where Salah’s potential passed unappreciated; to Florentina; to Roma amid gathering applause and a single-minded focus on mastering the requirements of the modern striker.
In Italy, Salah acquired tactical nous and sharpened his finishing. He showed his steel, too. He shrugged off the indifference of Chelsea, who signed Salah as a 21-year-old and gave him only six Premier League starts in a year; he weathered the antagonism of Florentina supporters when he chose to join Roma rather than stay in Florence after his brilliant spell there on loan from Chelsea.
Salah had fully won over Roma when he guided Egypt back towards their elite place in Africa’s hierarchy, as runners-up at the 2017 Nations Cup. By that October Salah had made his €50 million (Dh206m) move to Liverpool, and, in between the sensational 44 goals he would score for his new club in his first season at Anfield, he scored the goal that took Egypt to their first World Cup finals since 1990.
As it turned out, the Russia World Cup began with an Egypt denied their lodestar, in the cruellest circumstances. His shoulder injured by a rugged, sly challenge from Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos early in Liverpool’s defeat at the 2018 Uefa Champions League final, Salah missed the opening match, and, though he played and scored in Egypt’s next two group games - two losses - he was conspicuously short of full fitness.
Twelve months on, the Nations Cup carries the memory of all that. This is Egypt's opportunity for making amends. Salah has already avenged the Champions League wrong done to him in 2018, as scorer of the opening goal in Liverpool’s triumph in the 2019 final against Spurs. Viewed from Cairo, that was just the warm-up for now, the most important month of Salah’s life.
