Salah Left Out of Egypt Squad Due to Artificial Turf

Mohamed Salah has been left out of Egypt’s squad for Tuesday’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Sudan because the match will be played on artificial turf.

The Egyptian Football Association confirmed on Saturday that the national team’s technical staff, led by head coach Hossam Hassan, decided to rest the captain for the away fixture in Juba.

According to the federation, the decision was taken as a precaution to protect Salah from the playing surface at Juba Stadium, where Egypt will face South Sudan on September 29.

The EFA also said the decision was not made suddenly following Egypt’s opening qualifier against Angola. It stated that the technical staff and Salah had agreed before Friday’s match that he would not feature against South Sudan because of the artificial pitch.

Salah started Egypt’s opening AFCON qualifier against Angola at the Cairo International Stadium but was substituted around the hour mark as the match ended in a goalless draw.

Hassan later explained that the substitution was a tactical decision and that Salah was not injured.

The latest decision means Egypt will be without one of its most important attacking players as it seeks its first victory of the qualifying campaign.

Salah recently moved to Turkish club Trabzonspor after leaving Liverpool and remains a key figure for the Egyptian national team. He has scored 68 goals for Egypt and is one goal away from equalling Hassan’s record of 69 goals for the Pharaohs.

Egypt and Angola currently have one point each in Group B, while Malawi sit above them after defeating South Sudan in their opening fixture.

The Pharaohs will now prepare for the difficult away encounter without their captain, with the coaching staff prioritising player protection ahead of the artificial-turf fixture.

The 2027 AFCON will be hosted jointly by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, with Egypt competing in Group B alongside Angola, South Sudan and Malawi.