AFCON 2027 Qualifiers: Mohamed Salah asked for permission to leave camp – Ibrahim Hassan

Egypt captain Mohamed Salah will miss his country’s upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Sudan after being granted permission to leave the national team camp due to concerns over playing on an artificial surface.

The Egyptian Football Association confirmed on Friday that Salah has been rested for the Group B encounter at Juba National Stadium, with the decision taken by head coach Hossam Hassan and his technical staff.

According to the federation, the arrangement had been agreed before Egypt’s opening qualifier against Angola, with Salah set to sit out the trip to South Sudan.

Egypt national team manager Ibrahim Hassan said the Liverpool forward requested to be excused from the match because of the artificial turf.

“Salah asked for permission early because of the artificial pitch,” Ibrahim Hassan told local media. “A similar situation happened during the qualifiers for the previous Africa Cup of Nations against Mauritania.”

The 33-year-old also missed Egypt’s qualifier against Mauritania in October 2024, a match played on an artificial surface at the Cheikha Ould Boïdiya Stadium in Nouakchott.

At the time, Hossam Hassan revealed that Liverpool’s medical staff had expressed concerns about the possibility of Salah’s previous back and knee issues recurring on artificial turf.

“I respected his wish because Liverpool’s medical team were worried about his back and knee injuries returning due to the artificial pitch,” Hassan said after that match.

Salah’s absence will be a significant blow for the Pharaohs as they look to continue their qualifying campaign, but the coaching staff appear keen to manage the captain’s workload and minimise any injury risk associated with playing on synthetic surfaces.

Egypt face South Sudan in Juba in their second match of the qualifying series, with the seven-time African champions aiming to strengthen their position in Group B.