Egypt coach Hossam Hassan has called up NBE Club winger Osama Faisal to join the squad for Tuesday's 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against South Sudan. Faisal, 25, previously featured in the Pharaohs squad before the 2026 World Cup in North America. His inclusion comes after Egypt captain Mohamed Salah was ruled out of the trip. The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) stated that Faisal will train with the team before travelling to South Sudan.
The EFA announced that the technical staff decided to rest Salah, 34, to protect him from potential injury due to the artificial turf pitch. This decision allows the team to manage the risk of injury to their key player. Meanwhile, Egypt national team director Ibrahim Hassan stated that defender Mohamed Abdelmonem will miss the trip due to concerns over playing on artificial turf. Abdelmonem previously underwent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery.
Medical advice warned against playing on the artificial turf at the South Sudan venue, leading to Abdelmonem's exclusion from the squad. This decision was based on a medical report from Abdelmonem's French club, Nice. Egypt opened their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign with a 0-0 draw against Angola at Cairo International Stadium on Friday.
The draw left Egypt and Angola on one point each in Group B, behind leaders Malawi, who beat South Sudan in the opening round. Egypt will face South Sudan at Juba Stadium on Tuesday in the second round of the qualifiers. The team aims to secure a win and improve their standing in the group.
Osama Faisal's inclusion in the squad provides an opportunity for the young player to contribute to the team's performance. His experience in previous international matches will be valuable in the upcoming game. The team's strategy and player selection will be crucial in determining the outcome of the match.
Egypt's coach, Hossam Hassan, is focused on achieving a positive result in the match. The team's performance in the previous match against Angola was solid, and they will look to build on that momentum. The coach's decisions regarding player selection and team strategy will be important in determining the team's success.
The match against South Sudan is a crucial one for Egypt, and the team will need to perform well to secure a win. The outcome of the match will have an impact on the team's standing in Group B and their chances of advancing to the next round of the AFCON qualifiers.
Key points
- Egypt coach Hossam Hassan calls up Osama Faisal for AFCON qualifier against South Sudan
- Mohamed Salah to be rested due to artificial turf concerns
- Mohamed Abdelmonem misses trip due to medical concerns over artificial turf
