Mohamed Salah: Egypt must 'learn from our mistakes' after Africa Cup of Nations exit

The Liverpool forward goes on social media to talk about Saturday's surprise 1-0 loss to South Africa in Cairo

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Mohamed Salah hopes Egypt learn from the "mistakes" of a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations campaign that ended on Saturday with defeat to South Africa in the last 16.

The home nation had been pre-tournament favourites to win the competition but they were beaten 1-0 by South Africa in Cairo in the second round.

It completed a tough few weeks for Salah, who had come in for heavy criticism on social media for his role in helping encourage the Egyptian Football Association to change their minds on a decision to remove teammate Amr Warda from the squad after the midfielder had been accused of sexual harassment by two women in June.

Egypt's Mohamed Salah walks in dejection end of the African Cup of Nations round of 16 soccer match between Egypt and South Africa in Cairo International stadium in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, July 6, 2019. South Africa won 1-0. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Egypt's Mohamed Salah wants to learn from Saturday's Africa Cup of Nations loss to South Africa. AP Photo

Salah wrote on Twitter on Sunday about his regrets that he and his teammates had fallen short in their objectives to win the title for the country for the first time since 2010.

"I am very sad for our early exit from the AFCON," he wrote. "We wanted to continue the journey till the end with the fans, and deliver the championship for them.

"I want to thank the fans for their loyal support.

"I hope we learn from our mistakes, all the best to the national team for what comes next."

The repercussions to the Egypt defeat having already begun. Manager Javier Aguirre was fired on Saturday evening, less then a year after taking charge, while Egyptian FA president Hany Abo Rida has resigned and also ordered his fellow board members to step down as a "moral obligation".

Salah will now have a break before he rejoins his Liverpool teammates ahead of their bid to win the Premier League in the 2019/20 season, with the opening game of the campaign on August 9 against Norwich City at Anfield.