Mohamed Salah’s departure from Egypt’s camp following the draw with Angola has raised questions over why the captain left, particularly after the controversy surrounding his early substitution.

The official explanation accounts for his absence against South Sudan: Egypt’s coaching staff decided not to take Salah to Juba because the match will be played on artificial turf.

But Egyptian reports have also suggested the Trabzonspor star may not return for the subsequent friendly against South Africa in Cairo.

That makes the situation less straightforward.

The artificial-turf explanation makes sense

Salah’s reluctance to play on artificial surfaces is not new.

He also missed Egypt’s away match against Mauritania in 2024 after the coaching staff decided not to risk him on an artificial pitch.

According to the official account, the decision for Salah to sit out the South Sudan match had also been made independently of what happened against Angola.

That weakens the theory that his substitution directly caused the decision to leave.

There is therefore good reason to accept the artificial surface as a genuine explanation for missing the game in Juba.

But what about South Africa?

This is where the unanswered question emerges.

The Egyptian federation has officially confirmed only Salah’s absence against South Sudan.

However, reports from Egyptian media say he is also not expected to return for the South Africa friendly in Cairo.

If that proves correct, artificial turf cannot explain the second absence.

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There could still be a simple explanation. Egypt may have agreed to release Salah for the remainder of the international window, particularly with South Africa only a friendly.

But that has not yet been officially clarified.

Did the Angola substitution play a role?

The timing inevitably fuels speculation.

Salah was substituted around the hour mark against Angola with the score still 0-0 and appeared surprised when his number was shown.

Reports citing unnamed sources subsequently suggested he was unhappy following the match.

Salah himself, however, has not publicly complained, while Egypt’s coaching staff have denied any dispute.

There is therefore no firm evidence that frustration with Hossam Hassan caused his departure.

A credible explanation, but an incomplete picture

The official reason for Salah missing South Sudan is credible and supported by precedent.

The uncertainty begins only if reports of his absence against South Africa are also confirmed.

At that point, the artificial pitch would explain one game but not why Egypt’s captain is missing the remainder of the camp.

For now, there is not enough evidence to say Salah left because he was angry.

But there is enough uncertainty to ask whether the artificial-turf explanation tells the whole story.