AFCON 2027 Qualifiers: Salah sidelined due to Juba's synthetic pitch, Osimhen and Semenyo out

Egypt will face South Sudan in Juba on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, for the second matchday of the AFCON 2027 qualifiers, without Mohamed Salah. According to Footmercato, the Pharaohs' technical staff decided to rest the 34-year-old forward due to the synthetic pitch at the Juba stadium, which was deemed too risky for him.

Two Egyptian internationals rested for the same reason

The national team's statement, cited by Footmercato, indicates that the decision was made before the match against Angola: "The technical staff decided to rest Mohamed Salah due to the playing surface." Defender Mohamed Abdelmonem, of OGC Nice, also did not make the trip: according to AfricaFootUnited, his club highlighted the risks associated with playing on synthetic turf for a player who has previously undergone cruciate ligament surgery, and manager Ibrahim Hassan confirmed his absence.

Egypt, held to a 0-0 draw by Angola on the first matchday, will therefore approach this away game shorthanded. The delegation departed from Cairo on September 27, according to AfricaFootUnited.

Nigeria without Osimhen, Ghana without Semenyo

The Egyptian case is not isolated. Nigeria must do without Victor Osimhen: the Galatasaray forward is suffering from a right adductor injury, and his club informed the national team that he would be available neither against Madagascar on September 25 nor for the second matchday, reports Afrik.com. Ghana, for its part, is without Antoine Semenyo, who remained at his club for treatment following significant swelling in his right ankle, according to Africa Top Sports.

These cascading absences highlight a reality of African football: the continent's biggest stars play in Europe, and their clubs are exerting increasing influence over national team selections, especially when playing infrastructure is in question. The debate over synthetic pitches approved on the continent, cited this time by two European clubs, will not end in Juba.

The second matchday takes place on September 28 and 29, 2026, featuring matches including Zimbabwe vs. DR Congo, Botswana vs. Tunisia, Lesotho vs. Morocco, Ethiopia vs. Senegal, Congo vs. Cameroon, and Ghana vs. The Gambia, according to the schedule published by Le360 Afrique.