Hossam Hassan, the head coach of the Egyptian national team, confirmed that Mohamed Salah missed the South Sudan match due to personal circumstances.
The Football Association had previously announced that Mohamed Salah would miss the South Sudan match because of the artificial turf pitch.
Egypt's national team swept aside its South Sudan counterpart with a five-goal margin in the second round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Hossam Hassan said during the press conference: "Mohamed Salah is a very important player globally and at any time, and he was absent due to 'personal circumstances'."
He added: "Therefore, I say that the entire team was going through difficult conditions in the Angola match, and the situation would have been different if we had held a longer preparation period without injuries."
He emphasized: "I am not making excuses or offering 'justifications' because the team may be affected, but it does not depend on one person. All players are important, but at the same time, it is not right for a country with 120 million people to have its team dependent on a single player."
He continued: "It is my duty to work with the dedicated players present to build a strong core for the national team."
He concluded: "I try to choose my words and letters carefully when speaking because my intentions are good, but I am misunderstood."
Egypt's national team achieved its first win in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers after drawing in the previous match against Angola.
Egypt's national team is in Group Two of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, alongside Angola, South Sudan, and Malawi.
