Rested in Juba with the Pharaohs, then fielded on artificial turf in Finland with Trabzonspor, Mohamed Salah drew criticism in Egypt. Pundit Abdelrahman Sherif tells Foot Africa that the two choices do not contradict each other.
Mohamed Salah, Egypt’s captain and forward, had been rested by the Pharaohs for the qualifying match played in Juba against South Sudan. His subsequent appearance with Trabzonspor, on an artificial pitch in Finland in a European match, sparked criticism in Egypt.
To defuse the controversy, Egyptian pundit Abdelrahman Sherif spoke exclusively to Foot Africa. In his view, “his subsequent appearance with Trabzonspor on an artificial pitch in Finland did not constitute a contradiction”.
Two pitches, two realities
The two episodes came one after the other: first Salah’s absence with the national team in Juba, then his presence with the Turkish club on a Finnish artificial surface. Some critics in Egypt saw a contradiction there.
Abdelrahman Sherif, a sports pundit and independent expert, showed that the quality of the latest-generation artificial pitches in Europe has nothing to do with the harder surfaces in Africa. His argument rests on a simple distinction between surfaces.
The pundit also clarified the framework of the decision to rest the forward: it was taken by Egypt’s medical and technical staff in agreement with the player, in order to avoid any risk of joint injury. A preventive measure, then.
A captain still at the heart of the project
The clarification sheds light on the relationship of trust established between Salah and the Egyptian Football Association (EFA). The player signed for Trabzonspor after the end of his spell at Liverpool, and he continues to lead the Pharaohs in their qualifying campaign for the 2027 AFCON.
The results are following: Egypt sit top of their qualifying group after the first two matchdays.
At Trabzonspor, the right winger is presented as an undisputed starter on the right flank for the club’s upcoming Turkish Süper Lig fixtures. The club and the national team therefore share the same player, but not the same calendar or the same pitches.
What comes next, between Turkey and the Pharaohs
Two appointments await Salah: the resumption of the Turkish league with Trabzonspor, then the Pharaohs’ next international gathering, in November 2026.
For the pundit, the controversy does not hold: the player’s appearance in Finland did not constitute a contradiction with the decision taken in Juba. Still, the pitch issue could resurface over these fixtures, with the qualifying campaign for the 2027 AFCON continuing in the background.