Egypt to rest Salah in South Sudan AFCON qualifier over pitch concerns

Egyptian FA has decided to remainder Salah to support him from playing connected artificial turf, which has a higher hazard of injuries.

Mohamed Salah volition not question with ⁠Egypt’s ⁠squad to South Sudan for their 2nd Africa Cup of Nations qualifier due to the fact that the ⁠match volition beryllium played connected artificial turf, the Egyptian Football Association said ⁠on Saturday.

Record seven-time AFCON champions Egypt were held to a goalless draw by Angola astatine Cairo International Stadium connected Friday successful their opening qualifier.

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Two-time African Footballer of the Year, Salah, who ‌joined Turkiye’s Trabzonspor from Liverpool past month, started against Angola but did not implicit the lucifer aft manager Hossam Hassan substituted him midway done the 2nd half.

“The Egypt nationalist team’s method staff, led by Hossam Hassan, has ⁠decided to remainder Mohamed Salah ⁠for the lucifer against South Sudan scheduled for September 29 due to the fact that of the playing surface,” the EFA said connected societal ⁠media.

“It was agreed betwixt the nationalist team’s method unit and ⁠Mohamed Salah earlier the Angola ⁠match that helium would not play against South Sudan, and the method unit preferred this attack successful bid to ‌protect the player,” the EFA added.

Salah has scored 68 goals for Egypt and is conscionable 1 abbreviated of matching manager and ex-player Hassan’s all-time grounds of 69 for The Pharaohs.

Tuesday’s lucifer betwixt South Sudan and Egypt volition beryllium played ‌at ‌Juba Stadium, which has an artificial turf pitch. Such surfaces airs a higher hazard of injuries than those with earthy grass.

Egypt are successful Group B of the AFCON 2027 qualifiers, alongside Angola, South Sudan and Malawi. The 2027 AFCON volition beryllium co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, featuring 24 teams.

Though Egypt are the astir palmy African side, they haven’t won the title since 2010.