Egypt will be without captain and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah when the Pharaohs face South Sudan in their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Juba.
Veteran defender Ramy Rabia is set to wear the captain’s armband after Salah was left out of the squad that travelled to South Sudan for the encounter.
Salah’s absence will be a major talking point ahead of the fixture, given his importance to the Egyptian national team.
The forward has been one of Egypt’s leading attacking players and a key figure in the Pharaohs’ recent international campaigns.
With Salah not travelling, attention will now turn to how Egypt’s attacking department responds against a South Sudan side seeking a positive result on home soil.
Rabia, who brings considerable experience at international level, is expected to provide leadership from the back as Egypt look to maintain their momentum in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Ramy Rabia Takes Captaincy
The decision to hand the captaincy to Rabia comes with Salah unavailable for the trip to Juba.
The experienced defender will be expected to lead Egypt both on and off the pitch as the Pharaohs pursue another important result.
Egypt will also be looking to maintain their defensive organisation while dealing with the conditions and challenges associated with an away fixture in South Sudan.
Salah’s Absence Draws Attention
Mohamed Salah’s decision not to travel means Egypt will have to approach the match without one of their most influential players.
The Liverpool star has consistently been central to Egypt’s attacking play, making his absence a significant development ahead of the qualifier.
However, Egypt still possess experienced players capable of contributing in attack, and the technical team will be expected to find a way to compensate for Salah’s absence.
Egypt Target Positive Result
The Pharaohs will be aiming to secure maximum points against South Sudan as they continue their quest for qualification for AFCON 2027.
South Sudan, meanwhile, will hope to use home advantage in Juba to challenge the North Africans and strengthen their own position in the qualifying race.
With Rabia taking over the captaincy and Salah absent from the travelling squad, all eyes will be on Egypt’s performance when the two sides meet.
