Mohamed Salah will miss Egypt’s AFCON qualifier against South Sudan because of the artificial pitch at Juba Stadium. Here’s why Egypt decided to protect him.
Mohamed Salah will not travel with Egypt for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Sudan after the Egyptian Football Association decided to protect the forward from playing on an artificial surface. The decision was confirmed by the EFA on Saturday, with Egypt scheduled to face South Sudan at Juba Stadium on September 29. The match will be played on artificial turf, prompting the national team’s technical staff to leave Salah out of the squad for the fixture.
The decision was also agreed before Egypt’s opening qualifier against Angola, meaning Salah’s absence is not the result of an injury picked up during the goalless draw. The 34-year-old started that match but was substituted after around an hour, with head coach Hossam Hassan describing the change as tactical.
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Why Is Mohamed Salah Being Rested?
The EFA said the decision was specifically related to the playing surface in Juba. According to the federation, the technical staff and Salah agreed before the Angola match that he would not feature against South Sudan, with the priority being to protect the player. That decision comes at an important stage of Salah’s season. The Egyptian recently left Liverpool after nine years at Anfield and joined Trabzonspor in Turkey, beginning a new chapter after making 442 appearances and scoring 257 goals for the Reds.
Salah has also made an explosive start to life in Turkey. He scored a hat-trick and provided an assist in Trabzonspor’s 4-0 victory over Galatasaray on September 19, taking his league tally to seven goals and two assists from six appearances. With that form behind him, Egypt’s decision to avoid putting him on an artificial pitch is understandable from a squad-management perspective, particularly with a long season ahead.
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Does Artificial Turf Actually Increase Injury Risk?
The concern surrounding artificial turf is not new in football, although the relationship between playing surface and injury risk is more complicated than simply saying artificial pitches are more dangerous. UEFA research has examined injury rates on artificial turf and natural grass. One UEFA study involving elite teams found no significant difference in injury risk between the two surfaces when looking specifically at first-team matches. Earlier research also found that artificial turf was not inherently more dangerous than natural grass.
Modern professional artificial pitches are also subject to strict standards. FIFA’s Quality Programme tests football turf for playing performance, safety, durability, and quality assurance, while FIFA Quality Pro represents the highest certification level for professional football surfaces. Therefore, Egypt’s decision should be viewed as a precaution rather than evidence that Salah is carrying an injury or that Juba’s pitch is unsafe.
What Does Salah’s Absence Mean For Egypt?
Salah’s absence leaves Egypt without their captain and most recognisable attacking player for a potentially important away fixture. Egypt began their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign with a 0-0 draw against Angola in Cairo. The result left both teams with one point in Group B, while Malawi moved to the top after beating South Sudan. Salah has also been central to Egypt’s recent international campaigns. He currently has 68 goals for the national team and is just one goal behind Hossam Hassan’s record of 69, meaning the captain will have to wait for another opportunity to equal the mark.
The immediate priority, however, is keeping Salah fit for the remainder of the season. His form for Trabzonspor has made him one of the most important players in the Turkish side’s attack, while Egypt will have plenty of matches remaining in their AFCON qualifying campaign. Salah will therefore watch from the sidelines as Egypt travels to Juba, with the decision reflecting a simple priority: avoiding unnecessary risk to one of the country’s most important players. Will Egypt’s decision to rest Salah give him the protection needed for a long season, or will his absence make the South Sudan qualifier considerably more difficult?
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