When Egypt football star Mohamed Salah reportedly request make dem exclude am from the squad wey suppose play South Sudan on September 29, 2026 because dem talk say pitch no good, people everywhere notice and dem react for different ways.

Some football fans and people inside the game back Salah decision wey e take together with Egypt national team technical staff, but other people see am as disrespect to South Sudan national infrastructure or as insult to the match.

Egypt and South Sudan, with Malawi and Angola, dey for Group B of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

For statement wey Egyptian Football Association (EFA) publish few days before the Egypt–South Sudan match, dem talk say Salah omission na caution move to “protect” the player from possible injury.

“The Egypt national team's technical staff has decided to rest Mohamed Salah for the match against South Sudan because of the playing surface,” EFA talk on September 26.

Wahala (Backlash)

The statement bring plenty wahala, and social media fill with people wey remember other big players like Senegal’s Sadio Mané wey don play for Juba National Stadium before without any complaint about the pitch.

For Egypt, some fans and media still connect Salah absence to wetin happen when dem sub him off middle second half for AFCON qualifier against Angola on September 25, like say na because e vex.

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan try play down the talk, say the relationship wey him get with Salah — wey he call “one of the team's key pillars” — good.

“We need Salah in the upcoming matches. The well-being of every player is my top priority, and I have great confidence in all the players,” Hossam talk.

Grass better

Under the matter about Salah and the 5-0 wey Egypt beat South Sudan on September 29, the debate about natural grass versus artificial turf still dey. Why e important whether game dey play for natural grass or artificial turf?

Robert Matano, head coach of Kenya Premier League club Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), tell TRT Afrika say natural grass get “every advantage you can imagine of” pass artificial turf.

“Grass na better surface for football because e soft pass artificial turf. So e reduce chance say player go get serious injury if e fall,” Matano talk. Matano don win four Kenya Premier League titles with two different clubs (Sofapaka FC and Tusker FC) and na Kenya most successful club-level manager.

The coach still yarn how him players get “unusually high number of injuries” for September 2021 when him then-club, Tusker FC, play Djibouti side AS Arta Solar 7 for CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round. “For Djibouti we play on artificial grass. I remember our players suffer plenty injuries compared to when dem play for normal grass,” Matano talk.

Grass dey cool

Besides the protection against injuries, natural grass make ball move better and e dey cooler compared to artificial turf, Matano explain.

“Because dem dey water grass, e dey naturally cooler than artificial grass wey no need regular water. Heat from ground dey contribute plenty to how pitch dey hot. So grass dey more preferred when dem dey play for hot places like South Sudan or Djibouti.”

About Salah decision to refuse the South Sudan match for Juba, Matano talk: “I think he get him own reason for decline the fixture in Juba. Maybe before e don play on artificial grass and e suffer serious injury.”

“Some pitches no well built or dem no maintain am, and that one fit affect players physically and even for mind. Heat for South Sudan, plus artificial pitch, fit make player no gree play,” Matano add, referring to South Sudan hot tropical climate wey average about 28°C yearly.

Safety first

The KCB coach advise say for hot regions, governments and sports stakeholders suppose try reduce the number of artificial-grass stadiums to protect players health and well-being. If dem must use artificial pitches, dem suppose consider hybrid solutions wey mix natural and artificial materials — semi-artificial turf.

Some people still talk say many players for early part of their career dey play for rough pitches, so later dem suppose no too complain. But Matano say, “Football fit play for any pitch, but safety first.” He add say when player don establish, e get more choice on the conditions wey e wan play, especially with technical team blessing.

Three advantages of artificial turf

After everything wey dem talk, noba small analysts and former players defend Salah decision to decline the South Sudan match, saying synthetic grass put extra pressure for joints of older players.

EFA also rest defender Mohamed Abdelmonem for the same reason, so e show say na general squad safety policy and no be only special treatment for Salah, wey dey 34 years old.

Even though Matano and many people prefer natural grass, studies and analysts talk say artificial surfaces get three main logistical advantages: low maintenance costs, better resistance to bad weather, and water saving.

Stadium operators say if dem remove constant mowing, weeding and fertilising, dem go reduce long-term labour and equipment costs. Analysts also talk say artificial turf strong well, e fit handle heavy use and back-to-back matches. Plus, synthetic pitches no need regular watering, so dem save big water for dry places.