Egypt's national team, led by coach Hossam Hassan, will face South Africa in a friendly match at Cairo International Stadium on Sunday, October 4, 2026. The team will be without two of its star players, Mohamed Salah and Mohamed Abdel Monem, who have been excused from the match. The two players had previously agreed with the coaching staff to leave the team's camp.
Mohamed Salah had played against Angola, but was rested for the match against South Sudan due to the team's artificial turf in Juba. Coach Hossam Hassan confirmed that Salah's absence was pre-planned and not due to disciplinary reasons. The team is now looking for alternative attacking solutions in Salah's absence, with Omar Marmoush and other players who performed well against South Sudan expected to play key roles.
The friendly match against South Africa is part of Egypt's preparations for the African qualifiers. The team comes into the match on the back of a 5-0 win over South Sudan in the second round of qualifiers, which lifted their tally to 4 points in Group 2. Egypt had opened their campaign with a goalless draw against Angola.
The match against South Africa will provide an opportunity for the coaching staff to try out new tactics and formations. The team is seeking to make the most of the match and gain valuable experience ahead of the qualifiers. Egypt's goal is to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
In the 5-0 win over South Sudan, Omar Marmoush scored two goals and provided a much-needed boost to Egypt's attack. The team's performance was a significant improvement on their display against Angola, where they struggled to create scoring chances. Egypt's players will look to build on that momentum against South Africa.
The friendly match against South Africa will kick off at 9 pm Cairo time on Sunday. Egypt's fans will be watching closely as the team prepares for the qualifiers. Coach Hossam Hassan will be looking to make the most of the match and make any necessary adjustments ahead of the competitive fixtures.
Egypt currently top Group 2 in the African qualifiers with 4 points from two matches. The team's next competitive fixture will be an important one as they look to build on their momentum and secure a spot in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. The friendly match against South Africa will provide valuable preparation for that challenge.
Key points
- Egypt's national team will face South Africa without key players Mohamed Salah and Mohamed Abdel Monem.
- The team is seeking to make the most of the friendly match and gain valuable experience ahead of the African qualifiers.
- Egypt currently top Group 2 in the African qualifiers with 4 points from two matches.
