World Cup 2026: El Mahdi Suleiman explains Mohamed Salah substitution against Belgium

Egypt goalkeeper El Mahdi Suleiman has revealed that Mohamed Salah was substituted during the Pharaohs’ 1-1 draw against Belgium after experiencing fatigue during the match.

Egypt secured a valuable point in their opening Group G fixture at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, producing an impressive performance against one of Europe’s strongest sides to keep their qualification hopes firmly on track.

Salah Withdrawn Due to Fatigue

Speaking after the match, Suleiman explained that the decision to replace Egypt’s captain was made purely as a precaution after the Liverpool star began to feel tired.

“Mohamed Salah is a great player and a true leader, and he always supports all his teammates, but he felt some fatigue during the match, and the coaching staff felt that substituting him was the best decision,” Suleiman said.

The substitution raised concerns among Egyptian supporters, but Suleiman’s comments suggest there is no injury issue and that the move was intended to manage Salah’s physical condition during the tournament.

Positive Start for the Pharaohs

Despite surrendering their lead and settling for a draw, Suleiman believes Egypt can take plenty of positives from their opening performance against Belgium.

“We played a good match against a strong team, and we were aiming for victory, but a draw is still a positive result at the beginning of the journey,” he said.

The goalkeeper also praised his teammates for their efforts and singled out fellow goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir for recognition following his display.

“All the players lived up to their responsibilities and delivered a great performance. I also made sure to congratulate Mostafa Shobeir on the outstanding level he displayed during the match.”

Egypt Targeting Top Spot

Looking ahead to the remainder of the tournament, Suleiman insisted Egypt fear no opponent and remain ambitious about their prospects in the competition.

“Our goal is to compete strongly and finish the group stage in first place, and we are confident in our ability to achieve positive results in the upcoming matches,” he said.

The veteran goalkeeper also thanked Egyptian supporters for their backing and promised that the squad would continue fighting to make the nation proud.

“We have high hopes for the next two matches, and we seek to please the Egyptian fans who have supported us so wonderfully, and we hope to deliver a tournament worthy of the name of the Egyptian national team.”

With a point already on the board, Egypt will now turn their attention to their remaining group fixtures as they bid to reach the knockout stages of the World Cup.