Egypt's national team is set to participate in the African qualifiers for the 2027 Cup of Nations. The team, led by coach Hossam Hassan, has called up 24 players, including 15 local and 9 foreign-based players. The team will play three matches during the international break from September 21 to October 6. Egypt is in Group 2 alongside Angola, Malawi, and South Sudan. The team's first match is against Angola on September 25 at Cairo Stadium.
The nine foreign-based players have been in impressive form ahead of joining the national team. Mohamed Salah, who recently joined Trabzonspor in Turkey, has been outstanding, scoring 7 goals and topping the Turkish league's scorers list. Salah has played 8 matches for Trabzonspor, scoring 2 goals against Bashakşehir and 1 goal each against Amudspor, Gençlerbirliği, and a hat-trick against Galatasaray.
Another key player is Omar Marmoush, who joined Tottenham Hotspur from Manchester City. Marmoush has started 4 matches for Tottenham, although he has yet to score or assist a goal. Hamza Abdel Karim, a 18-year-old player for Barcelona, has scored 4 goals in the team's pre-season friendlies, including one against Al Ahly.
Ibrahim Adel, a midfielder for Norwegian club Nørshilland, has been instrumental in his team's success, scoring a goal and providing an assist in 9 league matches. Mohamed Abdel Moneim, a defender for French club Nice, has started 4 matches after missing the entire previous season due to injury. Abdel Moneim impressed in his team's win against Lille, earning the highest rating among his teammates.
Other notable players include Hossam Abdel Majid, a defender for Bulgarian club Ludogorets, who has started 3 matches after joining from Zamalek. Heitham Hassan, a winger for Scottish club Celtic, has provided 1 assist in 9 matches, while Omar Faid, a defender for Italian club Frosinone, has joined the team after a brief stint at Turkish club Fenerbahçe.
Ramy Rabia, a defender for Emirati club Al Ain, has started 5 league matches and 1 Asian Champions League match, scoring 1 goal and providing 1 assist. Al Ain is currently top of the UAE league with 13 points, tied with Al Jazira. The team's coach, Hossam Hassan, will look to utilize the skills of these foreign-based players to boost Egypt's chances in the African qualifiers.
Egypt's national team will face tough competition in the qualifiers, but with a strong squad and impressive form from their foreign-based players, they are confident of making a good run. The team's matches against Angola, South Sudan, and South Africa will be crucial in determining their progress in the qualifiers.
Key points
- Egypt's national team has called up 9 foreign-based players, including Mohamed Salah, Omar Marmoush, and Hamza Abdel Karim.
- The team will play three matches during the international break against Angola, South Sudan, and South Africa.
- The foreign-based players have been in impressive form ahead of joining the national team, with several players scoring and assisting goals in their respective leagues.
