Mohamed Salah will not be the only Egyptian footballer missing the second round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in South Sudan.
Egypt will have to do without another key player for their trip to South Sudan. Following the already announced absence of Mohamed Salah, Mohamed Abdelmonem has now been officially ruled out of the journey. The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) confirmed the central defender's absence, further limiting the coach's options for this crucial match.
This decision comes after a medical report provided by his club, OGC Nice. Recently recovered from a serious knee ligament injury, the player has received strict recommendations against playing on artificial turf. The EFA and the medical staff chose to take no risks with the Nice player's physical condition, opting for long-term caution.
This double setback, both in defense and attack, forces the Pharaohs to urgently rethink their tactical strategies. Without their Trabzonspor star and their defensive leader, the Egyptians will approach this away match under considerable pressure, with a reshuffled central defense that will need to prove itself on a notoriously difficult surface.
