Egypt have left Mohamed Salah out of the squad that travelled to Juba for Tuesday's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Sudan, and the reason given has nothing to do with form or fitness. The game will be played on artificial turf, and Hossam Hassan's staff decided that was reason enough to keep their most valuable player at home.
The decision was not taken this week. According to the Egyptian Football Association, it was agreed between Salah and the technical staff before Friday's goalless draw with Angola in Cairo, which the 34-year-old started before being withdrawn after an hour.
What the federation actually said
"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 in its statement. It added that the arrangement had been settled in advance and that the staff "preferred this approach in order to protect the player".
That phrasing matters. This is not a case of a player refusing to travel, nor a federation bowing to a club. Salah and the coaching staff reached the same conclusion at the same time, and the announcement was made openly rather than dressed up as a knock.
The argument about artificial surfaces
Plenty of players share the instinct that plastic pitches chew up joints, and the perception of extra injury risk has followed synthetic surfaces around for years, even as the technology behind them has improved considerably. The research does not really support the fear. Studies have found no evidence that artificial turf carries a greater injury risk than grass.
None of which changes how a 34-year-old forward feels about one. Perception drives squad decisions as much as data does, particularly when the player in question is the one your qualification campaign runs through. Egypt clearly decided the small chance of something going wrong in Juba was not worth taking.
A different Salah now
He arrives at this point in a noticeably different phase of his career. Salah left Liverpool at the end of last season after nine years, 442 appearances and 257 goals, a spell that brought him nine major trophies and a permanent place in the club's history. He now plays in Turkey with Trabzonspor, and the move has not slowed him down in the slightest: seven goals and two assists from six Super Lig games this season.
Egypt will handle South Sudan without him, in all likelihood. The interesting part is what the decision says about how carefully they intend to manage him from here, with a Cup of Nations to think about and a forward who is no longer 26.
Match facts: South Sudan v Egypt, Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, Juba, Tuesday 29 September. Egypt drew 0-0 with Angola in Cairo on Friday, Salah's first appearance since the summer World Cup, in which he was substituted on the hour. Salah, 34, is contracted to Trabzonspor and has seven goals in six Turkish Super Lig matches this season.
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