Mohamed Salah has been omitted from Egypt's squad for their upcoming clash with South Sudan, with the Egyptian Football Association citing concerns over the artificial playing surface at the Juba Stadium as the reason behind the decision.
The 34-year-old, who recently ended a decade-long spell at Liverpool to join Turkish outfit Trabzonspor, did not travel with the rest of the squad for the fixture scheduled for September 29. His absence comes just days after he started in Egypt's goalless draw against Angola, a match in which he was substituted shortly after the 60-minute mark.
In an official statement, the EFA explained that the decision to rest Salah had been made collectively by the national team's coaching staff, headed by Hossam Hassan, in consultation with the player himself prior to the Angola fixture. The federation stated: "The Egypt national team's technical staff, led by Hossam Hassan, has decided to rest Mohamed Salah for the match against South Sudan scheduled for 29 September because of the playing surface. It was agreed between the national team's technical staff and Mohamed Salah before the Angola match that he would not play against South Sudan, and the technical staff preferred this approach in order to protect the player."
The move reflects a long-standing belief among many in football that artificial turf carries a heightened risk of injury compared to natural grass, despite research findings that have largely challenged this assumption. Nonetheless, Egypt's coaching staff appear to have taken a cautious stance with their star forward, prioritizing his long-term fitness over his involvement in what is considered a lower-profile qualifying fixture.
Salah's exclusion means Egypt will have to navigate the South Sudan test without their talisman, though he remains a central figure in the squad's plans going forward. Attention will now turn to whether he is recalled for Egypt's friendly against South Africa on October 4, a fixture that could offer him a chance to return to action on home soil.
The timing of his rest period comes amid an impressive individual run of form since his move to Turkey. Salah has quickly established himself as a key performer in the Turkish Super Lig, netting seven goals and providing two assists across his opening six league appearances for Trabzonspor. His standout display came in a resounding 4-0 victory over fierce rivals Galatasaray, where he scored a hat-trick to underline his continued quality at the top level of European football.
Having left Liverpool after ten trophy-laden years at Anfield, Salah's transition to Turkish football has so far proven seamless, with his goal-scoring exploits ensuring his value to both club and country remains as high as ever. Egypt's coaching staff will be keen to manage his workload carefully as they continue their qualification campaign, balancing the demands of international duty with his club commitments in Turkey.
For now, focus shifts to how Egypt fare without their most influential player against South Sudan, before all eyes turn to the prospect of his return for the friendly against South Africa the following week.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport (football).