The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced on Saturday that national team captain Mohamed Salah will not participate in the upcoming match against South Sudan. This decision was made by the technical staff, headed by coach Hossam Hassan, to rest the Trabzonspor star forward and protect him from potential injury, as the game will be played on an artificial turf pitch.
The decision to rest Salah comes after Egypt's goalless draw with Angola in Cairo on Friday evening, which marked the opening of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Salah, 34, was substituted in the 60th minute of the game. According to the EFA, an agreement was reached between the technical staff and Salah ahead of the Angola match, ruling him out of the South Sudan fixture as a precautionary measure to safeguard his fitness.
Egypt will face South Sudan on Tuesday at Juba Stadium in the second round of the qualifiers. Following the Angola encounter, Egypt's head coach Hossam Hassan said substituting the national team captain was a tactical decision. Hassan seemed satisfied with the team's performance, despite the draw, and emphasized that the decision to rest Salah was made to ensure his fitness for future games.
Friday's draw leaves both Egypt and Angola tied on one point in Group B, behind leaders Malawi, who defeated South Sudan earlier in the day. The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers continue, and Egypt will look to bounce back from the draw against Angola in their next match against South Sudan.
The EFA clarified that the decision to rest Salah was made in agreement with the player himself. This move is seen as a strategic decision to manage Salah's workload and prevent potential injuries, especially given the artificial turf pitch at Juba Stadium.
Egypt's coach Hossam Hassan faced criticism for his decision to substitute Salah during the Angola match, with some questioning the tactical decision. However, Hassan maintained that the substitution was necessary to protect Salah and ensure his fitness for future games.
The match against South Sudan is crucial for Egypt's chances of advancing in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Despite the absence of Salah, Egypt will look to secure a win against South Sudan and improve their standing in Group B.
Key points
- Egypt's national team captain Mohamed Salah will not play against South Sudan on Tuesday due to a precautionary measure to protect him from potential injury.
- The decision to rest Salah was made by the technical staff, headed by coach Hossam Hassan, to protect him from potential injury on the artificial turf pitch at Juba Stadium.
- Egypt's draw against Angola in the opening match of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers left both teams tied on one point in Group B.
