AFCON 2021: Aboubakar says that Salah is nothing special

Cameroon captain Vincent Aboubakar set his sights on tonight's semi-final against Egypt, the team that had also provided the opposition in the AFCON 2017 final. That day, Egypt lost because maybe Mohamed Salah wasn't quite so full of confidence and he simply wasn't the player he is today. But the leading AFCON 2021 goalscorer doesn't share this view.

Speaking to French website RFI, the Cameroonian hitman dismissed the Liverpool man.

"Salah is having a great season in the Premier League, he is helping his country to advance in the competition. I wish him a lot of luck. May the best win! But he doesn't impress me much. I say it clearly because I'm an honest person and I have my way of seeing things. If he impressed me, I would say so. But he doesn't impress me much."

AFCON 2021: Africa's top dogs Egypt and Cameroon clash for final berth at Olembe Stadium

It may be a strange thing to say about a player who's been performing at the top level for years, but Aboubakar reckons that Salah's goals are more a result of Liverpool's well-oiled attacking machine than a result of Mo's supreme ability.

"He's a good player, he scores a lot but he doesn't produce a lot of stuff in the game. Of course, he's doing well in England because he's been at a team that's been together for years. He's a good player but not at the level of some like Kylian Mbappe."

So, if the Pharaohs' best player isn't impressive then surely Cameroon are going to have an easy game?

"There is no favourite! The team that will have more desire will win."

We wonder if Salah has read Aboubakar's comments and will he have a response on the Olembe pitch tonight?

Also, we cannot help but wonder - how good do you have to be to impress Vincent Aboubakar?