Will Mohamed Salah Play Against South Africa?
Mohamed Salah will once again be one of Egypt's biggest absentees. After not traveling to face South Sudan, the Pharaohs captain will also be unavailable for the friendly against South Africa on October 4 in Cairo.
Egypt will close out its current international window without Mohamed Salah.
The Pharaohs captain will not take part in the friendly against South Africa, scheduled for Sunday, October 4, at the Cairo International Stadium, a match that will serve as preparation for the upcoming commitments of the team coached by Hossam Hassan.
According to journalist Ahmed Shobair, who revealed the information on On Sport FM, Salah is currently in England and will not return to the national team camp for the friendly.
According to the same information, his absence is not related to an injury or a disciplinary decision. Shobair explained that there was a prior agreement for Salah to be unavailable for this match.
As a result, Hossam Hassan will once again have to prepare his team without the Egyptian national team's biggest star.
A Different Situation From His Absence Against South Sudan
It will be the second consecutive match Egypt plays without its captain, although the reasons are different.
Salah also missed the 5-0 victory over South Sudan in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. On that occasion, the Egyptian Football Association announced that the coaching staff had decided not to expose the forward to the artificial surface at Juba National Stadium.
The decision had been agreed upon with the player beforehand and was intended to reduce any potential physical risk. Hossam Hassan also publicly backed his captain amid speculation surrounding his absence.
Salah had featured in the first match of this international window, the draw against Angola, before being left out of the trip to Juba.
Egypt Will End the International Window Without Its Captain
Now, Hossam Hassan will have another opportunity to test alternatives without his biggest star when the Pharaohs host South Africa in Cairo.
Unlike what happened before the match in Juba, the Egyptian Football Association has not yet released an official statement specifically explaining Salah's absence against South Africa. The information regarding his situation for this match comes from statements made by Ahmed Shobair.
Salah Will Once Again Be Absent for Egypt
- Mohamed Salah will not play in the friendly between Egypt and South Africa on October 4.
- According to Ahmed Shobair, the Egyptian captain is in England and will not be available for the match.
- His absence against South Sudan was for a different reason: the Egyptian Football Association confirmed it was a precautionary measure due to the artificial surface at the stadium in Juba.
