Egypt’s national football team will be without star forward Mohamed Salah for the upcoming African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against South Sudan, the federation confirmed on Thursday. The decision was made because the match will be played on an artificial pitch, a surface that Salah has reportedly expressed concerns about.
Coaches and selectors have opted to exclude Salah from the squad in order to avoid any potential injury risk associated with the synthetic turf. The move comes ahead of the qualifier, which is a crucial step for Egypt as it seeks to secure a place in the continental tournament.
While the team’s core lineup remains largely intact, the absence of one of Africa’s most prolific goal‑scorers could influence Egypt’s attacking options. The federation has not released a full list of the selected players for the fixture.
Egypt has historically been a strong contender in African football, regularly advancing to the later stages of the AFCON. The decision to leave Salah out underscores the growing debate over the use of artificial surfaces in international competitions.
The AFCON qualifier against South Sudan is scheduled to take place in the coming weeks, with both teams looking to secure a win and progress in the tournament’s qualification phase.
<small>Source: Punch Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>