South Sudan v Egypt tips: Salah absence matters
Under 2.5 goals @2.18 at Betway is our selection. Egypt produced only two shots on target in their goalless opener against Angola and travel to Juba without Mohamed Salah.
Key takeaways
- Salah is rested because Tuesday's match is on artificial turf.
- Egypt drew 0-0 with Angola despite having 66% possession.
- South Sudan failed to score in three of their last five matches.
Best bet
Betway SA odds: 27 September 2026, 10:20-10:35 SAST.
| Selection | Market | Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 2.5 goals | Total goals | @2.18 | Betway |
Egypt lose their main scoring threat
Salah will not travel to South Sudan. His absence was agreed before the Angola match because of Juba's artificial surface, removing a major attacking threat from a side that struggled to turn possession into chances on Friday.
Egypt had 15 shots against Angola, but only two were on target. Ten corners and two-thirds of the ball did not produce a goal. That performance makes the over 2.5 price of @1.56 look difficult to support without Salah.
South Sudan offer limited help to the total
South Sudan lost 2-1 to Malawi in their opening group match, with Joseph Dhata scoring their goal. Before that, they lost 1-0 to Djibouti after winning the first leg of the preliminary tie 4-0.
Their preceding World Cup qualifiers ended 0-0 against Togo and 0-5 against Senegal. The Senegal defeat is a genuine concern: South Sudan can be overwhelmed by stronger attacks. Egypt's current finishing and Salah's absence are why we prefer the under in this particular matchup.
Juba rather than Cairo
Egypt leave home after failing to break down Angola and now have to reshape their attack for an away fixture. South Sudan's three blanks in five matches reduce the prospect of both sides contributing heavily. We expect Egypt to have the better chances, but favour a lower total.
Verdict
Take under 2.5 goals @2.18. Salah's absence changes the attacking picture after Egypt's unproductive opener.