AFCON 2027 Qualifiers: Egypt coach Hossam Hassan explains Salah’s absence ahead of South Sudan clash

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan has explained why captain Mohamed Salah was left out of the squad for the Pharaohs’ upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Sudan.

Hassan revealed that the decision was primarily due to the artificial turf pitch, with the technical team opting not to risk the Liverpool forward ahead of Egypt’s upcoming fixtures.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, the Egypt coach stressed that Salah remains an important member of the national team and one of the key players in his plans.

“I respect all the players, and at the top of them is Mohammed Salah. He is an important and influential player, one of the key elements, a big and important player for the team, and one of the most important players in the world,” Hassan said.

“However, we preferred to rest him because of the artificial turf pitch. He had spoken to me about the matter before the Angola match, and we agreed on it.

“We need him in the upcoming matches, and the safety of any player is my top priority. My confidence in all the players is great.”

Salah will therefore miss Egypt’s encounter with South Sudan as the Pharaohs look to continue their strong start to the AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign.

Despite the absence of their captain and talisman, Hassan is confident that the rest of his squad can step up and maintain Egypt’s momentum in the qualifiers.

The coach’s decision also highlights the importance of managing Salah’s workload, particularly with Egypt having several crucial matches ahead in their bid to secure qualification for the continental showpiece.