LONDON: Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has tested positive for COVID-19 while on international duty for Egypt without showing any symptoms.
The Egyptian Football Association announced the development on Twitter adding that the rest of the Egypt team were negative for coronavirus, while Salah is now self-isolating and will be “subject to more checks in the coming hours”.
The announcement comes as Egypt prepares to tackle Togo at home on Saturday in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. Salah was observing medical protocols agreed in consultations between doctors in Egypt and Liverpool and self-isolating in a Cairo hotel room.
The two-time African Footballer of the Year will undergo further tests in the coming hours, the federation said. Salah, who has been in sensational form for Liverpool this season, has scored 10 goals in only 13 appearances.
If he is sidelined, it would be a blow for Premier League champions Liverpool, who have deprived of Senegal international forward Sadio Mane earlier in the season when he too tested positive for coronavirus.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has already lost defender Joe Gomez to a knee tendon injury he suffered while on England duty this week. The club says Gomez is likely to be sidelined for months.
Mohamed Salah attended a family wedding earlier on during this international break, with footage showing him dancing with fellow guests and, on more than one occasion, not wearing a mask.
