Egypt has rested captain Mohamed Salah ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Sudan. The decision comes after a goalless draw with Angola and is designed to protect the forward from injury on the artificial turf at Juba Stadium.
The Pharaohs have omitted Mohamed Salah from their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations fixture against South Sudan owing to the synthetic pitch. The veteran ex-Liverpool forward, currently playing for Trabzonspor in Turkey, did not board the flight to the capital city of Juba for Tuesday’s fixture. Having turned out in the starting XI for Friday’s 0-0 stalemate against Angola in Cairo, the 34-year-old was taken off after sixty minutes by manager Hossam Hassan. On Saturday, the Egyptian Football Association confirmed that Salah will not accompany the national team to South Sudan for their second qualifier due to the artificial grass surface. Egypt played out a scoreless draw against Angola at Cairo International Stadium on Friday to kick off their qualifying campaign. Although Salah was named in the starting lineup against Angola, he was withdrawn in the second half by coach Hossam Hassan before the final whistle. The Egyptian Football Association announced on Saturday that Salah is excluded from the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away to South Sudan because of the pitch’s artificial turf. Salah started in the match against Angola but was substituted midway through the second half. Egypt was eventually held to a goalless draw in the opening qualifier.
Egyptian Football Association Announces Mohamed Salah’s Rest Against South Sudan
The Egyptian Football Association officially confirmed the exemption of national team captain Mohamed Salah from participating against South Sudan in the upcoming match on Tuesday within the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, according to a decision by Hossam Hassan. The technical staff of the Egyptian national team, led by Hossam Hassan, issued an official statement through their platforms, explaining that Mohamed Salah would be rested from the match against South Sudan to avoid playing on the artificial turf. The statement also mentioned that there was prior agreement between the technical staff and the player before the Angola match, which included his exclusion from the trip to South Sudan as a precautionary measure to ensure his safety. The global star and captain of the Egyptian national team, Mohamed Salah, who is a player for the Turkish club Trabzonspor, left the national team camp heading abroad before traveling to South Sudan, a step taken in full coordination with the coach, General Hossam Hassan, and this precautionary decision
The Turf Controversy and Player Protection at Juba Stadium
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) released an official statement addressing the fixture scheduled for September 29, confirming that the measure was preventative.
“The Egypt national team’s technical staff, led by Hossam Hassan, has decided to rest Mohamed Salah for the match against South Sudan scheduled for September 29 because of the stadium’s ‘Turf’ (artificial) playing surface.”
Egyptian Football Association
The governing body added that an agreement had been reached between the player and management prior to the Angola game to excuse him from the away trip.
“It was agreed between the national team’s technical staff and Mohamed Salah before the Angola match that he would not play against South Sudan, and the technical staff preferred this approach in order to protect the player.”
Egyptian Football Association
Squad Adjustments Following the Angola Stalemate
Salah departed the national team camp in Cairo rather than traveling with the squad to South Sudan. The forward, who recently transferred from Liverpool to Turkish club Trabzonspor, logged an hour on the pitch against Angola before manager Hossam Hassan substituted him.
Hassan insisted the substitution was purely tactical and that his captain was carrying no injuries. Even so, the departure opens tactical questions for Egypt’s attacking line as local media point to potential replacements including Haitham Hassan, Ahmed Sayed Zizo, and Zico to fill the vacant winger role.
With Salah back in club training and exempt from the synthetic pitch conditions in Juba, the Pharaohs must play their second qualifying fixture without their veteran talisman.
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