Egypt's national football team, the Pharaohs, will start their journey to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) with matches against Angola and South Sudan. The team, led by coach Hossam Hassan, is seeking to build on their historic performance in the 2026 World Cup. Hassan stated that the upcoming period will be more challenging, with higher expectations from fans and critics alike. The team's first match is scheduled for September 25 against Angola at the Cairo Stadium.
Coach Hossam Hassan has retained the core of his World Cup squad, with only two changes. Goalkeeper Abdel Aziz Al Baalouty and midfielder Ali Mahmoud have been added to the team. Al Baalouty, from the National Bank of Egypt, earns his first call-up due to the injury of experienced goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy. Ali Mahmoud, who joined Al Ahly this summer, has shown impressive skills and a powerful shot. The team will also be without several players due to injuries, including Yasser Ibrahim, Mahmoud Trezeguet, and Hamdi Fathi.
The Pharaohs will face Angola, ranked 87th in the FIFA world rankings, on September 25, followed by a match against South Sudan, ranked 169th, on September 29. The team is considered a strong favorite to top their group, which also includes Malawi. Egypt is currently ranked 24th in the world. As part of their preparation, the team will play a friendly match against South Africa on October 4.
Several players from the World Cup squad have continued to impress in their respective leagues. Captain Mohamed Salah has excelled in Turkey, scoring a hat-trick for Trabzonspor and becoming the league's top scorer. Omar Marmoush, now at Tottenham Hotspur, has secured a starting spot, despite a slow start to the season. Mohamed Abdelmonem has regained his place in the starting lineup for Nice, while Haissem Hassan has joined Celtic and Hamza Abdelkarim has been promoted to the first team at FC Barcelona.
Coach Hossam Hassan has called up a mix of experienced players and young talent. Midfielder Emam Ashour, who has recently returned from injury, is expected to play a key role. Goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, midfielder Marwan Attia, and defender Mohamed Hany are also part of the team's core. Young players like Mostafa Zico, who impressed at the World Cup, have also been included in the squad.
The team's preparation for the qualifiers has been extensive, with a training camp that began on September 17 and lasted for nearly three weeks. The team has been working on building team spirit and fine-tuning their tactics. The coaching staff, led by Hassan, has been inspired by the methods of Egyptian football legend Mahmoud El-Gohary.
The Pharaohs are determined to confirm their progress and achieve another success in the CAN 2027 qualifiers. With a strong squad and experienced coaching staff, the team is confident of achieving their goals. The team's journey to the CAN 2027 will be closely watched by fans and critics alike, as they seek to build on their historic World Cup performance.
Key points
- Egypt's Pharaohs face a tough test in the CAN 2027 qualifiers against Angola and South Sudan.
- Coach Hossam Hassan has retained the core of his World Cup squad, with only two changes.
- The team will also play a friendly match against South Africa on October 4 as part of their preparation.
