Tests confirmed that the player suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his knee.

 ACL injury: A curse haunts Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations

             

Tests confirmed that the player suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his knee.

The curse of ACL injuries continues to plague Egyptian national team stars in recent editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, with Mohamed Hamdy, the Pharaohs' left-back, becoming the latest victim.

Hamdy sustained the injury during the first half of Egypt's match against Benin on Monday in the Round of 16 of the continental tournament, currently being held in Morocco. Egypt, the most successful team in the Africa Cup of Nations, won the match 3-1, securing their place in the quarterfinals.

Hamdy fell during a challenge in midfield with a Benin player. He clutched his knee and was stretchered off the field, immediately taken to a hospital in Agadir.

Medical tests confirmed that the player, who won the CAF Champions League title last season with Egyptian club Pyramids FC, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his knee. 

He is expected to undergo surgery soon, after which a return date to training and official matches will be determined. However, his chances of participating with the Egyptian national team in the World Cup, which will be held next summer in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, have become extremely slim.

The match also saw Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet, the Egyptian national team winger, suffer a torn ankle, further diminishing his chances of participating in the remainder of his team's campaign in the tournament, which concludes on January 18.

The ACL has become a recurring "curse" for Egyptian national team players in the Africa Cup of Nations. In the last five editions of the tournament, three of the team's stars have suffered this dreaded injury, keeping them off the field for extended periods.

Marwan Mohsen was the first Egyptian national team player to suffer a cruciate ligament injury in the Africa Cup of Nations. During the team's quarter-final match against Morocco in the 2017 edition of the tournament, held in Gabon, the Al Ahly striker suffered a serious injury, forcing him to leave the pitch at the Stade de Port-Gentil.

Mohsen left the field in tears and underwent medical tests which confirmed a torn cruciate ligament in his knee. The Egyptian Football Association announced the player's injury the following day.

In the Pharaohs' first match of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, held in Cameroon, the Egyptian national team suffered a 1-0 defeat against Nigeria. However, they also suffered another setback with the injury of Akram Tawfik, the Al Ahly right-back at the time.

Akram Tawfik suffered an injury in Egypt's opening match of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, causing confusion within the team. They were forced to rely on Mohamed Abdelmonem, then Omar Kamal, and finally Emam Ashour at right-back, a position Tawfik usually occupied, throughout the tournament, which saw them reach the final against Senegal.

After recovering from his initial injury, Tawfik suffered a recurrence of his cruciate ligament injury shortly after. He then regained his form and established himself as a key player for Al Ahly before moving to Doha, Qatar, last summer to join Al Shamal.

Egypt will face the winner of the Round of 16 match between defending champions Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso in the quarterfinals on Saturday.