Egypt's national team is set to face South Sudan in the second round of African Cup of Nations qualifying, with significant changes to the team's leadership. Rami Rabia will captain the team in the absence of Mohamed Salah, who has withdrawn from the squad. Rabia will be joined by other senior players, including Karim Hafiz, Mohamed Hani, and Ahmed Fatah.
The match against South Sudan is scheduled to take place on Tuesday at 4 pm in Juba, South Sudan's capital. The game will be broadcast on beIN Sports, a pan-Arab sports network. Egypt is currently in Group Two of the qualifying tournament, alongside Angola, Malawi, and South Sudan. The team's first match against Angola ended in a goalless draw.
In the current group standings, Malawi leads with three points, followed by Angola with one point, Egypt with one point, and South Sudan with zero points. The first round of matches saw Malawi defeat South Sudan 2-1, while Egypt and Angola played out a draw. Egypt's squad for the current camp includes 25 players, with Mohamed Shobeer, El-Mahdi Suleiman, and several others named in the goalkeeping, defense, midfield, and attack positions.
The team's coach has called up a mix of experienced and young players, including Omar Marmoush, Hamza Abdel Karim, and Osama Faisal in the attack. The midfield features players like Marwan Attia, Emad Morsi, and Ahmed Zizo. The defense includes Mohamed Hani, Tariq Alaa, Rami Rabia, and Ahmed Fatah, among others.
In related news, Egypt will play a friendly match against South Africa on October 4 at Cairo International Stadium. The match is scheduled to kick off at 9 pm local time. This game will provide an opportunity for the team to fine-tune their preparations ahead of the upcoming qualifying matches.
Mohamed Salah's absence from the squad has been attributed to personal reasons. His withdrawal has led to Rami Rabia taking over as captain, with Karim Hafiz, Mohamed Hani, and Ahmed Fatah serving as vice-captains. The team's leadership changes come at a crucial time, with the qualifying tournament heating up.
Egypt's coaching staff will look to build on the team's performance in the first round, where they secured a hard-fought draw against Angola. The team's focus will be on securing a positive result against South Sudan and making a strong statement in the qualifying tournament. The match against South Sudan represents a significant challenge for the team, but they will look to draw on their experience and skill to secure a win.
Key points
- Egypt's national team faces South Sudan in African Cup of Nations qualifying without star player Mohamed Salah.
- Rami Rabia will captain the team in Salah's absence, with Karim Hafiz, Mohamed Hani, and Ahmed Fatah serving as vice-captains.
- Egypt will also play a friendly match against South Africa on October 4 at Cairo International Stadium.
