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Egypt to rest Salah for South Sudan qualifier on artificial turf
The Egyptian Football Association said Mohamed Salah will not travel for Tuesday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Sudan. The team cited the Juba pitch’s artificial surface and said the decision was precautionary.
The Egyptian Football Association said on Saturday that captain Mohamed Salah will not travel with the squad for Tuesday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Sudan in Juba, citing the stadium’s artificial surface and a decision by the technical staff to reduce injury risk.
The federation said the plan had been agreed with Salah before Egypt opened its qualifying campaign against Angola, framing the absence as a precaution rather than a reaction to any fresh injury.
How Egypt arrived at the decision
Egypt began Group B with a goalless draw against Angola in Cairo on Friday. Salah was taken off in the 60th minute, and coach Hossam Hassan later said the substitution was tactical.
That result left Egypt and Angola level on one point after matchday one, behind Malawi, who beat South Sudan earlier on Friday.
What the schedule means
CAF’s fixtures show South Sudan v Egypt on 29 September in Juba during the first two matchdays of the 2027 qualifiers, with Group B also including Angola and Malawi. The opening window runs from 24 September to 6 October 2026.
Based on the federation’s statement, the key point is that Salah’s absence appears to be workload management for a tougher away surface, not a disciplinary or medical setback. Sources reviewed did not say Egypt had announced a like-for-like replacement plan.
