Salah Left Out of Egypt Squad for South Sudan Clash Over Artificial Turf

Egypt have left Mohamed Salah out of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Sudan, with the decision coming down to the artificial turf the match will be played on.

Salah, now playing for Turkish side Trabzonspor after leaving Liverpool, has not travelled with the squad to South Sudan's capital Juba for Tuesday's game. He had started Friday's goalless draw with Angola in Cairo, but was taken off after an hour by coach Hossam Hassan.

The Egyptian Football Association confirmed the decision was made in advance, purely as a precaution.

"The Egypt national team's technical staff, led by Hossam Hassan, has decided to rest Mohamed Salah for the match against South Sudan scheduled for 29 September because of the playing surface," the EFA said. "It was agreed between the national team's technical staff and Mohamed Salah before the Angola match that he would not play against South Sudan, and the technical staff preferred this approach in order to protect the player."

There's long been a perception that artificial pitches carry a higher risk of injury, even though studies have not actually found clear evidence to support that, despite improvements in turf technology over the years.

Salah left Liverpool at the end of last season after nine years at the club, during which he made 442 appearances, scored 257 goals and won nine major trophies. Since joining Trabzonspor, he has made an immediate impact, scoring seven goals and adding two assists in six Turkish Super Lig appearances so far this season.