Mohamed Salah will be the obvious danger man when South Africa face Egypt in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group B clash in Agadir on Friday. However, the Liverpool star has a troubled history against Bafana Bafana.

Salah has faced South Africa twice in his 110 international appearances, and both matches ended in 1-0 defeats, with the forward unable to make an impact.

Although he made his international debut in 2011, Salah didn’t meet South Africa until five years later, in an international friendly at Orlando Stadium. Egypt, under coach Hector Cuper, traveled to face Shakes Mashaba’s Bafana. An early goal from Mpho Makola secured the win for the hosts. Salah played the full 90 minutes but failed to influence the game.

That Egyptian squad also featured Mohamed Elneny and Trezeguet, making them far from pushovers, yet reports at the time criticized Salah for “poor finishing and decision-making.” At the time, he had just completed a permanent move to Roma and was at the beginning of the season that would reignite his career and eventually lead to a transfer to Liverpool.

Salah’s second encounter with South Africa was even more disappointing. Egypt hosted the 2019 AFCON and met Bafana in the Round of 16 in Cairo. While Egypt were expected to progress and contend for their first continental title since 2010, Stuart Baxter’s team held firm. Thembinkosi Lorch’s late winner five minutes from time shocked the hosts, sending South Africa into the quarterfinals, where they narrowly lost to Nigeria.

Once again, Salah played the full match but struggled. Match reports were scathing:

• “Salah takes on, and fails to beat the first man. That was dismal.”
• “Salah backs himself in a footrace with (Sifiso) Hlanti down the right … and loses.”
• “Salah has a belt from distance. It’s blocked. Egypt’s star man has been extremely quiet.”

It was a disappointing outing for both Salah and Egypt, leading to much reflection within the team.

Now, with history against him, the question is whether Salah can turn the tide and exact revenge against South Africa this time.