Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher slams Mohamed Salah AFCON penalty decision as ‘madness’

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has labelled Egypt’s decision to put talisman Mohamed Salah fifth in their penalty shootout list for Sunday’s AFCON final as ‘madness’.

The Reds winger did not get the chance to take a spot-kick as his side were beaten 4-2 on penalties by Sadio Mane’s Senegal - following a 0-0 draw after 120 minutes.

Egypt’s Mohamed Abdelmonem and Mohanad Lasheen both missed their penalties before Mane stepped up and won a first ever AFCON title for Lions of Teranga.

Carragher Tweeted: “That is why your best penalty taker should never go fifth.

“Mo Salah not taking a penalty for Egypt in a shootout in a final is madness. Also happened to Ronaldo years ago for Portugal v Spain.”

The ex-England defender went further, adding that choosing to go second in a shootout after winning the coin toss is ‘stupid’ - a decision made by Manchester United in their FA Cup shootout defeat to Middlesbrough on Friday.

Salah had been fifth in Egypt’s round-of-16 shootout win over Ivory Coast and sealed the win, but he was too far back to get a chance in the semi-final with his side only needing three kicks to beat hosts Cameroon 3-1.

Mane seals AFCON glory

A tight and tense affair at the Paul Biya Stadium in Olembe was always going to end in glory for one Liverpool star and heartbreak for another.

The sides could not be separated after 120 minutes, thanks mainly to Egyptian goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal - also known as ‘Gabaski’.

It was he who saved a Mane penalty inside seven minutes, punching a poor attempt to safety after a brief verbal exchange shortly before.

Senegal had the better of the final as Egypt remained compact and looked to break up their opponents free-flowing style.

The eventual winners continued to take the game to the Pharaohs in extra-time with Gabaski saving twice from substitute Bamba Dieng.

But penalties were on the cards long before the final whistle.

Both sides scored their opening spot-kicks before two misses from Egypt and one from Senegal gave Mane the chance to seal it.

And the 29-year-old rifled his penalty into the bottom corner to win his first ever AFCON and send the Lions of Teranga into rapture.

The win is Senegal’s first ever title after two final defeats in 2002 and 201 and brought redemption for their head coach, Aliou Cisse, who missed a crucial penalty in the 2002 final.

Salah and Mane will meet again next month as the sides meet in a two-legged play-off for a spot at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Salah and Mane return to Liverpool

Speaking before Liverpool’s FA Cup win against Cardiff City on Sunday, Jurgen Klopp hinted a return to club football could be sooner rather than later for both Salah and Mane.

He said: “I think they will be available [for Leicester] but we will see.

“Tuesday or Wednesday latest the winner will be back, the other slightly earlier,

“I have to talk to them. They have rhythm as [they have] played quite a few games.”

Despite Salah’s earlier return, it is the Egyptian who may be more inclined to miss Thursday’s home game against Leicester after he played four 120-minute games during the knockout stages, while Senegal only went the distance in the final.

Klopp now has the option of Luiz Diaz to play on either side of the front three, following his impressive debut coming off the bench on Sunday.

Both will be available for selection come Sunday’s trip to Burnley.