{
  "id": 10045667,
  "title": "Salah left out of Egypt squad due to artificial turf",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/salah-left-out-of-egypt-squad-due-to-artificial-turf-10045667",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-26T19:28:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/salah-left-out-of-egypt-squad-due-to-artificial-turf/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Egypt forward Mohamed Salah, now playing for Turkish club Trabzonspor, was absent from the national team's squad for an upcoming match against South Sudan. This decision, announced by the Egyptian Football Association (EFA), was made in collaboration between the national team's technical staff and Salah himself prior to their recent friendly against Angola. Salah had started the match against Angola but was substituted after an hour. While some perceive artificial turf as potentially increasing the risk of injury, conclusive research is lacking to confirm this notion. Salah, who left Liverpool at the end of last season after nine years, has made a significant impact at Trabzonspor, scoring seven goals and providing two assists in six Turkish Super Lig appearances this season.",
  "summary": "Mohamed Salah has been left out of Egypt’s squad for the AFCON qualifier against South Sudan because the match will be played on an artificial pitch. Read More: https://punchng.com/salah-left-out-of-egypt-squad-due-to-artificial-turf/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Salah left out of Egypt squad due to artificial turf",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/salah-left-out-of-egypt-squad-due-to-artificial-turf",
        "published": "2026-09-26T19:14:47.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}