Mohamed Salah had to go off injured toward the first half of Egypt’s Africa Cup of Nations game against Ghana on Thursday night.
The Liverpool star pulled up shortly before halftime, sat on the field, and then indicated he couldn’t continue when the team’s medical staff went to treat him. He seemed to hold the back of his left thigh.
Some Ghana fans cheered as Salah, the most high-profile player in the tournament, left the field to be replaced by Mostafa Fathi in the second minute of first-half injury time. He handed the captain’s armband to defender Ahmed Hegazi.
A minute after he went off, West Ham United star Mohamed Kudus wriggled himself free from his Egyptian markers after receiving a pass outside the box from Salis Abdul Samed to fire home a low shot to give the Black Stars the lead.
Egypt drew the first game of Group B 2-2 against Mozambique while Ghana lost 2-1 to Cape Verde.
Both Ghana and Egypt were under pressure to win after failing to win their opening games in Group B.