Liverpool and Egypt star Mohamed Salah in isolation after testing positive for coronavirus

Striker will miss African Cup of Nations double-header against Togo

A woman wearing a protective mask walks in front of a mural depicting Liverpool's Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah in Cairo in March. The Egyptian Football Association announced Salah has tested positive for coronavirus. EPA

A cafe in downtown Cairo with a mural depicting Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah. AFP

A mural of Liverpool's Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah in Cairo, Egypt. EPA

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the Premier League soccer match between against Everton. AP

Egypt's Mohamed Salah greets fans before an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match in 2018. AFP

Mohamed Salah at Liverpool in September. Reuters

Mohamed Salah in action in the Champions League final against Tottenham in 2019. Reuters

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Liverpool's Mohamed Salah. Reuters

Liverpool's Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah warming up ahead of a Champions League match against Bergamo in November. AFP

Mohamed Salah celebrates a goal against Atalanta during the Champions League match on November 3. AP

Liverpool and Egypt star Mohamed Salah has tested positive for coronavirus.

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced on Friday the striker returned a positive test result but was not displaying any Covid symptoms.

Salah will now self-isolate and is expected to be "subject to more checks in the coming hours".

The EFA added that other members of Egypt's national side tested negative ahead of their games against Togo in Cairo on Saturday and Lome on Tuesday in an African Cup of Nations double header.

Liverpool are not due to play again until their home Premier League match against Leicester City on November 21.

The positive test comes days after Salah attended the wedding of his brother in Cairo.

In footage published on social media, the 28-year-old can be seen dancing in a circle with dozens around him.

Egypt still allows weddings of up to 300 people as long as they are held in open-air venues.

News of Salah's ailment has triggered an avalanche of get well messages on social media in Egypt, where the 28-year-old is revered by millions of fans as the best Egyptian footballer of all time.

"Get well, you pride of the Arabs," is by far the most common of the tweets wishing the player a speedy recovery.