Egypt's national team manager, Ibrahim Hassan, has confirmed that defender Mohamed Abdel Monem will not be part of the squad traveling to South Sudan for their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. This decision comes after medical assessments revealed concerns about Abdel Monem's suitability to play on an artificial turf pitch. Abdel Monem recently underwent anterior cruciate ligament surgery and his club, French side Nîmes, has advised against him playing on such surfaces.
The Egyptian national team is set to depart for South Sudan on Tuesday, where they will face their hosts in the second round of qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. This match follows their goalless draw against Angola in the first round, which took place at Cairo International Stadium. The team's head coach, Hossam Hassan, had previously expressed concerns about the condition of the pitch in South Sudan.
In related news, Egypt's Football Association has announced that Osama Faisal, a forward from Al Bank Al Ahly, will join the national team's training camp. Faisal will begin training with the squad on Sunday and will travel with the team to South Sudan for the match against the host nation. This development comes as the team prepares for a crucial qualifier in their campaign.
The Egyptian team will conduct a morning training session at the Defense Ministry's stadium on Sunday. Following this session, the players will pack their bags and head to Cairo Airport, where the team's flight to South Sudan is scheduled to depart at 12:00 PM local time. Team officials have confirmed that preparations are on schedule.
Khaled El-Derndeli, the deputy head of Egypt's Football Association, will lead the team's delegation to South Sudan. This appointment was made by the Association's board of directors. El-Derndeli's role will involve overseeing the team's logistics and arrangements during their stay in South Sudan.
Notably, Egypt's star player Mohamed Salah will not be part of the squad traveling to South Sudan. Salah departed the team's camp after their match against Angola, in agreement with the coaching staff, due to concerns about the risk of injury on the artificial turf pitch. This decision was made to prioritize his safety and well-being.
The match against South Sudan represents a critical fixture in Egypt's qualifying campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. With both teams seeking to bounce back from their opening results, the encounter promises to be highly competitive. Egypt's Football Association has confirmed that all necessary arrangements have been made to ensure the team's participation and safety in South Sudan.
Key points
- Mohamed Abdel Monem ruled out of South Sudan trip due to medical concerns over artificial turf pitch
- Osama Faisal to join Egypt's national team training camp and travel to South Sudan
- Khaled El-Derndeli to lead Egypt's delegation to South Sudan as deputy head of the Football Association
