- Salah was first targeted in the 89th minute of the match against Sierra Leone
- Team-mate Mohamed Abdelmonem protected him as security ran onto the field
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Security had to be red alert when Mohamed Salah was targeted by numerous pitch invaders during Egypt’s win over Sierra Leone on Sunday.
Salah secured an assist as former Aston Villa man Trezeguet scored twice for the African side in Liberia as Egypt continued their perfect start to qualifying for the World Cup in 2025.
The game ended in sour fashion as the home side ended the game with nine men, with Abdul Jarju Kabia and Derby County star Tyrese Fornah both being given their marching orders in the match.
While Fornah was sent off in the first half, Kabia was shown red deep into second half stoppage time with frustrations clear both in the stands and on the field.
Social media footage shows security racing onto the field of play as pitch invaders jumped the barriers and appeared to head towards Salah, with the Liverpool forward’s team-mates also gathering around him.
One video showed a number of individuals sprinting towards Salah as a number of unauthorised people appeared to target Salah.
Salah’s team-mate Mohamed Abdelmonem can be seen guarding his team-mate, with one invader changing his focus from Salah to running back for the stands, chased by officials.
A number of people – including security guards draped in hi-vis jackets – were on the field as the clip ended, but Salah appeared calm as he tried to evade the situation.
Another clip showed a shirtless Salah being escorted off the field by a number of military guards, with one member of the public still trying their best to grab a photo with the forward.
The Egypt man appeared unflustered by what was going on throughout, having dealt with a number of pitch invaders before as the biggest star in African football.
Notably, in 2021, Salah was playing for Egypt against Angola when supporters ran onto the pitch in an attempt to reach him.
While it’s unclear why Salah was the specific target on this occasion, he is seen as an icon to several members of the African population, particularly in Egypt.
He wasn’t among the goals on Sunday but had already netted four goals in the international break, picking up a hat-trick plus one in his side’s 6-0 win over Dijbouti on Thursday evening.
The 31-year-old will now look to return to Liverpool in peak condition as he prepares for his side’s game against Manchester City at the weekend.
Liverpool have once again been handed the 12:30pm Saturday lunchtime game on TNT Sports straight after the international break, their third of the season, and will head to the Etihad with the hope of leapfrogging City at the top of the Premier League.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
