Roy Keane and Ian Wright weighed in on Liverpool star Mo Salah's failure to make Egypt's World Cup squad.
Several "excellent players," according to the Manchester United veteran, will miss the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
On Tuesday night, Salah had a bad deja vu.
Senegal defeated Egypt on penalties in the Africa Cup of Nations, and the same thing happened this time, with Liverpool's speed king blasting his spot-kick over the bar.
Salah will remain in the country in November, while Sadio Mane is on his way to Qatar with his AFCON medal around his neck.
This is exactly what both Wright and Keane had to say about BBC Sport broke the news about Liverpool's £34 million star last night.
"It's very difficult to qualify out of the CAF (Confederation of African Football)," Wright said. "There are 54 countries and five spots available to you." You're not going to get a Salah in a World Cup. You care about him, but you also need to win your games. He missed his penalty, and I've been hearing a lot about how he missed it (referencing to the lasers aimed at his face).
"However, the truth is that it's difficult. There is no Nigeria. There is no Egypt. It appears to be very harsh on African nations."
"It's tough going," Keane added. Unfortunately, not every team is eligible. I am confident they will recover.
"There will be some outstanding players missing from that World Cup." But that's just the nature of the beast, so it's difficult."
Salah is at the pinnacle of his abilities, and it's a shame he won't be able to display them on the world's largest platform.
Liverpool supporters will be hoping that the Egyptian flyer will instead vent his frustrations on the domestic stage in the final months of the season.
On the one hand, the Reds could have an enraged Salah ready to rip it up, whereas Mane will be flying high and confident.
If used correctly, it can bode well for Jurgen Klopp's team, which is hoping to add to their trophy cabinet this season.
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