Latest Mo Salah insult is BEYOND explanation

On Wednesday afternoon Mohamed Salah shared a selfie to his Instagram account featuring his young daughter.

It was the biggest indication we had that the Egyptian King would NOT be attending the CAF African Footballer of the Year ceremony in Morocco that night.

And with good reason too.

Within hours it was confirmed that Achraf Hakimi - the Morocco right-back - would be named CAF’s recipient of the award for 2025.

Hakimi's incredible year

Well done to Hakimi. He had the season of his life for club and country. Among his achievements the 27-year-old can include the Champions League, a Coupe de France and Ligue 1 title for his club. He also scored in the finals of both the Champions League and French Cup.

Overall he had 11 goals and 16 assists in all competitions for Luis Enrique’s team - a stunning total from right-back. Hakimi can also count himself as an Olympic silver medallist for his performances in Paris last summer.

This season he had been in great form until an ankle injury inflicted upon him by a rash tackle from Luis Diaz.

Make no mistake there are no sour grapes here - but there is no doubt this award should have gone to Salah.

Incomprehensible CAF award snub for Salah

In practically every other year, the highest-ranking African player in the Ballon d’Or vote goes on to win the CAF player of the year award.

Salah was Africa’s top performer in the Ballon d’Or - finishing fourth and just outside the podium. Hakimi was sixth. But for some reason Salah still seems to be disrespected when it comes to voting time.

We do not have to recount every single achievement from Salah last season. The numbers speak for themselves. It was quite frankly a joke that he did not get better Ballon d’Or recognition.

The year before he wasn’t even on the long list despite a storming start to the title-winning campaign. The CAF snub represents yet another insult to his honour.

Salah being disrespected yet again

The year before the African confederation didn’t see fit to include him even on the preliminary list amid rumours that Salah’s relationship with CAF was strained.

For too long Salah’s talents and successes have been underplayed. It’s an outrage.

He has won two CAF Footballer of the Year awards - back in 2017 and 2018 - but something has definitely gone on since then. Last season was perhaps the greatest individual display in Premier League history.

What else could Salah have done to secure the award?

What more can Salah do?

Probably not a lot. It looks like the die is cast in that respect.

The forward will have no choice but to lead Egypt to AFCON glory and to a decent FIFA World Cup result to have any chance next year. But who knows, they will probably penalise him regardless.

Liverpool and Egypt fans have known for a long time that they were in the presence of true greatness. And in fairness the Premier League, PFA and FWA have all picked Salah as their top player recently.

It’s just a shame Salah’s home continent hasn’t shown him the same respect.

And that’s why it’s little wonder he preferred to spend Wednesday with his little one at home and avoid another embarrassing stitch-up.

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