Egypt to rest Salah in South Sudan AFCON qualifier over pitch concerns
The Egyptian Football Association said Mohamed Salah will not join the national team for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in South Sudan because the match will be played on artificial turf. The decision, agreed with coach Hossam Hassan and Salah, was taken to reduce the player's risk of injury on the non-natural surface.
Why It Matters
Salah is Egypt's leading scorer and a central figure for the national team, so his absence affects squad selection for a competitive qualifier. The move also highlights ongoing concerns about player safety and pitch standards in international fixtures.
Key Facts
- Player: Mohamed Salah
- Decision maker: Egyptian Football Association and national team technical staff led by Hossam Hassan
- Reason given: Match will be played on artificial turf, which is said to carry a higher injury risk than natural grass
- Match: South Sudan vs Egypt, Africa Cup of Nations qualifier
- Match date: September 29
The Egyptian Football Association announced on Saturday that Mohamed Salah will not travel with the national team to Juba for their second Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match, citing concerns about the artificial turf at Juba Stadium. The EFA said the decision was made jointly by the technical staff, led by coach Hossam Hassan, and the player as a precaution to reduce injury risk on the non-natural surface. Salah had started Egypt’s opening qualifier, a goalless draw with Angola at Cairo International Stadium, but was substituted midway through the second half. The forward left Liverpool for Turkiye’s Trabzonspor last month and has scored 68 goals for Egypt, one shy of matching coach Hassan’s national record of 69. Egypt sit in Group B of the AFCON 2027 qualifiers alongside Angola, South Sudan and Malawi. The EFA noted the match in Juba will be played on artificial turf, which the association said increases the likelihood of injuries compared with natural grass pitches. The decision to rest Salah reflects those medical and safety concerns rather than tactical selection. Egypt are the tournament’s record seven-time champions but have not won the Africa Cup of Nations since 2010. The 2027 edition will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania and will feature 24 teams.
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