Egypt drops Mohamed Salah from next match over turf fears

Mohamed Salah will miss Egypt's upcoming match against South Sudan in Juba on Tuesday. The Egyptian Football Association stated that the team captain is staying home due to worries about the artificial playing surface at Juba Stadium. Local media earlier claimed the star forward was upset after head coach Hossam Hassan took him off in the sixty-first minute of their opening game. That match against Angola ended in a scoreless draw in Cairo on Friday. The federation clarified that the plan to rest the player for the away fixture was already set before the Angola game to keep him safe from injury.

Standings and History

Malawi currently leads Group B after defeating South Sudan two to one in their first fixture. Egypt previously took similar precautions with their captain during past qualifiers, leaving him out of an away match against Mauritania in October 2024. The top two teams in each group will secure a spot in next year's continental tournament across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

Context

Artificial turf surfaces are often avoided by top clubs and national teams because hard plastic pitches can increase the risk of muscle and joint injuries for players used to natural grass. Squads frequently manage player travel carefully during international breaks to protect key athletes from unnecessary physical strain.