Johannesburg: Liverpool star Mohamed Salah scored direct from a corner but was later injured as Egypt romped to a 4-1 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying win over eSwatini last night.
The striker went down holding his leg as the Group J match drew to a close in Cairo, resumed after receiving treatment, and was almost immediately withdrawn.
Speaking after the match, Egypt assistant coach Hany Ramzy said: “The initial diagnosis, according to the team doctor, is a strong muscle strain. It is not a tear, I think it is not serious.”
After scoring 44 goals in all competitions during his first season at Anfield, the striker has netted only three this term, with just one since August.
Salah netted twice and missed two penalties when record seven-time African champions Egypt hammered Niger 6-0 last month in another qualifier.
With eSwatini (formerly Swaziland) ranked even lower than Niger, there were expectations that Salah could get back on the goal trail at the Al Salam Stadium in the Egyptian capital.
Fluffed
He blasted a shot wide with Egypt three goals ahead before curling a corner into the net on the stroke of half-time.
Salah fluffed a chance to net again by missing from inside the box during the second half after combining with Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny.
Captain Ahmed Elmohamady, Amr Warda and Mahmoud Hassan also scored for Egypt and Sibonginkosi Gamedze snatched a late eSwatini consolation goal.
Tunisia, who host Niger Saturday, and Egypt have six points each in a mini-league they seem certain to qualify from for the 2019 Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Ivory Coast and Angola also scored four goals on a day when home teams dominated with seven of the first eight matches delivering maximum points to them.
Jonathan Kodjia, Manchester United defender Eric Bailly, Cheick Doukoure and Maxwel Cornet scored for the Ivorians as they crushed the Central African Republic 4-0 in Bouake.