Egyptian Football Association rests Salah for South Sudan match over artificial turf

Egypt's football association has rested Mohamed Salah from the AFCON qualifier against South Sudan, citing the match's artificial playing surface.

• The Egyptian Football Association announced Friday that Salah will be rested from the September 29 South Sudan match.
• Officials said a prior agreement with Salah, reached before the Angola match, spared him the artificial turf.
• Salah departed the national team camp after informing federation president Hani Abu Rida of his exit.
• Coach Hossam Hassan said Salah's substitution in the 0-0 Angola draw was a purely technical decision, with no injury.
• Team director Ibrahim Hassan denied any rift with Mohamed Salah, saying the star requested to leave camp over the artificial turf, as in past qualifiers.
• The Egyptian FA also rested Salah from the October 4 friendly against South Africa, and he will return directly to his club Trabzonspor.
• South Sudan's football association denied reports that the qualifier would be moved from Juba, with secretary-general Bak Salva saying no relocation had been communicated.
• Coach Hossam Hassan is weighing Omar Marmoush, Mustafa Ziko, and Ahmed Sayed Zizo as replacements for Salah and may change the team's formation.
• A previously surfaced clip shows Egypt coach Hossam Hassan saying he would never allow Mohamed Salah back into the national team camp if he had left.
• Hossam Hassan called goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy 'finished' before the Angola match, prompting Al Ahly to condemn the remarks as irresponsible.
• An Egyptian Football Association source denied any intention for Hossam Hassan's technical staff to leave, dismissing the rumors as baseless.
• The technical staff is considering calling up Bank Al Ahly striker Osama Faisal for the South Sudan match and has requested his passport.