Egypt move training to artificial turf ahead of South Sudan qualifier

Egypt will train on an artificial pitch before travelling to face South Sudan in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match.

The national team’s technical staff have moved Sunday’s session to Air Defence Stadium in Cairo to help the players adapt to the playing surface they will encounter in Juba.

Egypt team director Ibrahim Hassan confirmed that the Pharaohs will train at 09:30 on Sunday at one of the stadium’s artificial-turf pitches.

The session is intended to prepare the squad for South Sudan’s “tartan” surface when the teams meet in the second round of qualifying on Tuesday.

Egypt’s squad will leave Cairo for Juba, the capital of South Sudan, at 12:00. The flight is expected to take five hours.

Egypt began their qualifying campaign with a goalless draw against Angola at Cairo International Stadium.