Mohammed Salah believes hosting AFCON 2019 will help revive football in Egypt

Published on: 10 January 2019

African Player of the Year Mohammed Salah says Egypt's hosting of the Nations Cup in 2019 will help revive football in the country. 

Egypt were given the nod to host the competition after original hosts Cameroon failed to meet CAF preparation timelines.

"It's the right time for Egypt - as we have to be clear - our league is not a top league in Africa at the moment," Salah said after he was crowned player of the year in Senegal.

"I'm sure this is going to be the start for us to be back."

Egypt last hosted and won the Cup of Nations in 2006 before going on to win it in 2008 and 2010.

The Liverpool star believes the competition will allow fans to return to the stadia in numbers.

"The fans are going to be back in the stadium, and everything is going to be back like before," he enthused.

"I'm sure everyone knows about Egypt and the seven Africa Cups - we're going to look for number eight now, and this is the best time to start to be back like before."

Egypt have won the Nations Cup three times on home soil in 1959, in 1986 and again 20 years later.

They also hosted the finals in 1974 when the Pharaohs managed to clinch third place.

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