Egypt spare Salah the trip to South Sudan over artificial pitch

Egypt have left Mohamed Salah out of their squad to face South Sudan.

The forward did not travel with the team to Juba for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on 29 September. The reason is the pitch. The match will be played on artificial turf, a synthetic surface rather than natural grass.

The Egyptian Football Association said the decision was made by the technical staff led by head coach Hossam Hassan. It said Hassan and his coaches chose to rest Salah because of that surface. The plan was agreed with Salah himself before the previous game, in order to protect the player, according to BBC Sport.

Salah started Egypt's goalless draw with Angola in Cairo. Hassan took him off after an hour. That was Egypt's opening match in this qualifying run for the Africa Cup of Nations, the main national-team tournament in Africa. The trip to South Sudan is their second qualifier.

The call means Egypt must cope without Salah for a competitive away game. International breaks often bring two matches in a few days. Managers regularly share minutes around the squad to spread the load. Egypt have done that here in a very clear way. Use Salah at home on grass in Cairo, then spare him the away trip on a synthetic pitch.

Salah now plays for Trabzonspor in Turkey after leaving Liverpool. He left the English club at the end of last season after nine years. In that time he made 442 appearances and scored 257 goals. He won nine major trophies with Liverpool.

He has made a fast start in his new league. Salah has seven goals and two assists in six Turkish Super Lig games this season. The Super Lig is Turkey's top division. That is the form Egypt want to preserve.

For supporters, the frustration is easy to understand. Fans always want to see Salah play. Every Egypt squad feels bigger when his name is on the teamsheet. The ball seems to follow him, and one quick shift of the feet can lift a whole crowd.

What makes this stand out is how open the explanation has been. There is no injury and no dispute. Egypt's coaches and the player talked before the Angola game and settled on this plan. Rest him now, keep him fresh, avoid an unnecessary risk.

Egypt will now finish this qualifying window without him. The task in Juba stays the same. Find a way to win, stay strong at the start of the group, and then welcome Salah back for the games ahead.