AFCON 2023: Why did Egypt officials sacrifice a cow at Africa Cup of Nations?

Mohamed Salah in action for Egypt at AFCON 2023.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Egypt's Football Association has sacrificed a cow in an attempt to improve the team's fortunes at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Egypt are in action against DR Congo in the last 16 of the AFCON on Sunday, but the seven-time champions have still not won a game in the Ivory Coast.

According to team spokesman Mohamed Morad, the Federation killed the animal on Friday. Morad told The Associated Press that the meat had been distributed to hungry people in the nation's capital, Cairo.

Blighted by injuries so far, Egypt lost star forward Mohamed Salah in their second group game, with the 31-year-old expected back in Liverpool to speed up his recovery and unlikely to return unless the Pharoahs make it to the final in February.

Goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy is also sidelined after dislocating his shoulder in Egypt's next match.

Meanwhile, Emam Ashour was taken to hospital on Wednesday for concussion treatment following a head injury, but the midfielder has since returned to training.

According to reports in Egypt, the team sacrficed a calf during the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations and the Pharoahs went on to win the tournament in Ghana.

All of Egypt's three group games – against Mozambique, Ghana and Cape Verde – ended in 2-2 draws and their opponents in the last 16, Congo, also drew their three first-round matches – 1-1 versus Zambia and Morocco and 0-0 against Tanzania.

Egypt and DR Congo meet in San Pedro on Sunday for a place in the quarter-finals.

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Ivory Coast AFCON 2023 squad: Les Elephants' full team

AFCON 2023: Dates, fixtures, squads, stadiums and everything you need to know

Ben Hayward
Weekend editor

Ben Hayward is a European football writer and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered games all over the world - including three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America - and has spent much of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, currently dividing his time between Barcelona and London, covering all the big talking points of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list features and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine.

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