Mohamed Salah remains coy on his future with Egypt after heartbreaking defeat by Senegal

Egypt star Mohamed Salah gave little away about a potential decision on his international future following their failure to reach the World Cup in Qatar.

The Pharaohs lost a second consecutive penalty shootout to Senegal and therefore suffered defeat in their all-important World Cup play-off qualifier.

Egypt boss Carlos Queiroz stepped down from the role after seeing his side repeat their disappointment in the Africa Cup of Nations final by losing to Senegal on penalties.

Salah missed a penalty in the shootout, meaning Egypt failed to qualify for the World Cup

But in an emotional speech posted on the FilGol website, Salah remained coy on what his international future holds, insisting it had been a ‘privilege’ to play with his team-mates ‘whether I’ll be here or not afterwards’. 

‘I told you before the second leg that I’m proud to play with you and you’re some of the most dedicated players I played with,’ Salah said. 

‘I played with the previous generation with Wael Gomaa and Mohamed Aboutrika, then with Abdallah El-Said and the following generation. And I can say that I’m happy with the current generation.

‘I’m proud to have played with you and what happened was out of our control because they were penalty shootouts, and for the second time.

But in an emotional speech to his team-mates, Salah said: ‘It was a privilege to play alongside you, whether I’ll be here or not afterwards’

Salah also had to be escorted off the pitch by security guards in Senegal on Tuesday

‘There’s not much I can say, but it was a privilege to play alongside you, whether I’ll be here or not afterwards,’ he concluded.

The sports minister, Ashraf Sobhi, then interrupted the Liverpool star by saying: ‘You will be here’.

The comments come after it emerged FIFA are investigating the World Cup qualifier after the visitors filed a complaint.

Shocking footage has also emerged that showed Salah having to be escorted off the pitch by security guards after he was targeted by Senegal fans.

The Liverpool forward was initially confronted by a Senegal fan as they invaded the pitch to celebrate at full-time but security guards managed to pull him aside.

But as Salah made his way towards the tunnel, he was then targeted with several objects thrown from above in the stands at the Diamniadio Olympic Stadium in Dakar.

Officials protected the Liverpool star as missiles were aimed at him as he went down the tunnel

Salah marched into the dressing room in disgust after Egypt’s penalty shootout defeat

Salah’s security team did all they could to protect and shield him from the debris as supporters had a clear shot at the former Chelsea and Roma star in the tunnel area. 

It comes after the Egyptian FA claimed their team – and Salah ‘in particular’ – were subjected to racist abuse from Senegal fans.

‘The Egypt national team have been exposed to racism with offensive signs in the stands against the Egyptian players in general, and Mohamed Salah in particular,’ said a statement from the country’s FA.

Egypt claimed the team had been subjected to the abuse from the moment they arrived at the stadium after their bus was ‘assaulted’. 

‘The crowd also intimidated the players by throwing bottles and rocks on them during the warm-up.  

Salah and his Egypt team-mates had lasers shone in their faces against Senegal 

‘The Egyptian group’s busses have also been exposed to assaults that led to broken windows and injuries; filed with pictures and videos as proof in the complaint submitted.’ 

Senegal’s famous win was also overshadowed by the behaviour of supporters in the stands.

Egypt’s players were targeted by lasers throughout and it came to a head when Salah, stepping up in the shootout, had to try and focus amid the distractions.

Unsurprisingly, the Liverpool star blazed the ball well over, the second of four misses in the shootout after Napoli star Kalidou Koulibaly failed with the opening spot-kick.  

Vile scenes then showed the Liverpool forward having his head protected by officials as they escorted him into the dressing room, with Senegal supporters appearing to throw missiles at him.

Furious security guards were seen batting the objects away as they quickly whisked Salah down the tunnel during the mayhem. 

With the two-legged tie locked at 1-1 on aggregate the game went to penalties and Salah missed Egypt’s first spot-kick while he was targeted with a number of lasers shone into his eyes.

To compound Salah’s misery, Liverpool team-mate Sadio Mane then stepped up and scored the decisive spot-kick to send Senegal to the tournament in Qatar later this year. 

The Pharaohs went into the second leg of the play-off 1-0 up but Hamdi Fathi’s own goal after just four minutes on Tuesday restored parity in the tie.

It was the second recent loss Salah suffered at the hands of Liverpool team-mate Sadio Mane