This archive report was first published on 15 July 2019.
Published on July 15, 2019, the opening day of the Africa Cup of Nations, Cairo International Stadium was filled to capacity four hours before kick-off of the game between Egypt and Zimbabwe.
It was clear that the enthusiastic crowd had come to see one person: Mohamed Salah. Even with the din of over 70,000 voices in the stadium, when Salah stepped onto the pitch for the pregame warm-up, the decibel level increased significantly.
Salah's influence on the Egyptian people extends beyond his football skills. He has made significant charitable donations to his hometown, Nagrig, including a recent donation of 8 million Egyptian Pounds (approximately Sh50 million) to buy land and construct a much-needed sewage treatment.
His actions have earned him the nickname 'Happiness Maker.' A story is told of how Salah turned down the gift of a luxury villa from Zamalek's former president, Mamdouh Abbas, urging the leader to give the donation to his hometown.
Salah's influence on social media is also significant. His Instagram account has 29.8 million followers, and his Twitter account has 9.36 million followers. His posts are eagerly devoured by his fans, and he has even inspired a 'Mo Salah fishing challenge' on social media sites in Egypt.
