Egypt's Salah faces Mauritania on risky pitch in Africa Cup qualifier

Egypt's national football team, led by Mohamed Salah, is preparing for an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Mauritania. The match is scheduled for Tuesday, following Egypt's recent 2-0 victory over Mauritania in Cairo. Concerns have been raised regarding the quality of the artificial pitch in Mauritania, which could pose a risk of injury to players. Egypt's technical director, Hossam Hassan, has publicly stated that Salah is free to skip the match if he feels uncomfortable playing on the turf. He emphasized the physical nature of the Mauritanian team, which is known for its hard and aggressive style of play. Despite these concerns, there has been no official confirmation that Salah will miss the match, and he is expected to participate. Hassan has expressed a relaxed attitude towards the fixture, indicating that a win is not essential given Egypt's strong position in the qualifiers. Salah, who recently scored his 59th goal for Egypt, acknowledged the challenges posed by the upcoming match, highlighting the strength of the Mauritanian team. The situation reflects the ongoing challenges faced by players when competing on less-than-ideal playing surfaces, particularly in international fixtures.