of the Egyptian national football team confirmed that the current preparation period for the Pharaohs is sufficient and ideal for preparing for the 2026 World Cup. Attention is focused on the current training camp, which is witnessing significant changes, most notably the absence of star player and captain Mohamed Salah due to injury, while new faces have been called up to wear the national team jersey for the first time, most prominently young winger Haitham Hassan of Real Oviedo in Spain.
History of encounters and the importance of good preparation for the Egyptian national team
These preparations come at a crucial time for Egyptian football, as the coaching staff seeks to prepare the team for major international competitions. Historically, all-Arab encounters, especially those between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, have always been characterized by fierce competition, excitement, and widespread public interest. These friendly matches are not only important from a technical standpoint, but also provide a golden opportunity to test the chemistry between veteran players and promising young talents before the official start of the World Cup, the ultimate goal for Egyptian fans.
Details of Mohamed Salah's absence and its impact
In statements to AFP, Ibrahim Hassan explained that Mohamed Salah's absence from the March training camp was due to an injury he sustained while playing for his club, Liverpool. Hassan emphasized that Salah remains a key and important player in coach Hossam Hassan's plans, wishing him a speedy recovery and a return to action with Liverpool in the near future. Salah was injured during Liverpool's 4-0 victory over Galatasaray in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 and missed the subsequent match against Brighton, leading to his exclusion from the international squad for the friendly matches against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah and Spain in Barcelona this month.
Regional and international dimensions of the Pharaohs' camp
This training camp is of paramount importance and is expected to have a significant impact on several levels. Locally, it provides the coaching staff with an opportunity to assess the players and identify their strengths to bolster the bench. Regionally, facing the Saudi national team will enhance the competitive spirit and raise the technical readiness of both teams. Internationally, exposure to different footballing styles will provide the players with invaluable experience. Ibrahim Hassan commended the Egyptian Football Association's efforts in ensuring the camp's continuation after it was threatened with cancellation. The two matches were scheduled to take place in Doha at the Ahmed bin Ali and Lusail stadiums as part of the Qatar Festival, which included other friendly matches as well as the "Fainalsima" between Spain and Argentina. However, the security situation in the Middle East led to its cancellation.
New blood: Haitham Hassan recalled and Abdel Moneim returns
One of the most notable gains from this training camp was the inclusion of Real Oviedo winger Haitham Hassan (24 years old), who previously represented France at the under-17 and under-18 levels and chose to represent his father's country instead of his mother's country, Tunisia. Hassan praised the player, saying, "Haitham is an exceptional talent, and we've been following him for a long time. When the opportunity arose to include him, we didn't hesitate." The squad also included, for the first time, El Gouna goalkeeper Mohamed Alaa, Zed defender Tarek Alaa, and Zamalek striker Nasser Mansi. The list also saw the return of Nice defender Mohamed Abdelmonem after nearly a year's absence due to a cruciate ligament injury, despite him not yet having played for his club this season.
The complete list and roadmap to the World Cup
The training camp began on Sunday, and the team will travel to Jeddah on Wednesday to face Saudi Arabia on March 27, before heading to Barcelona to play Spain on March 31 at Espanyol's stadium. The Pharaohs are also scheduled to play Brazil in a friendly match in Cleveland on June 6. It's worth noting that the World Cup draw placed Egypt in Group G with Belgium, New Zealand, and Iran.
List of selected players:
- Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy and Mostafa Shobeir (Al Ahly), El Mahdi Soliman (Zamalek), Mohamed Alaa (El Gouna).
- For defense: Mohamed Hany, Yasser Ibrahim and Ahmed Nabil “Koka” (Al Ahly), Tarek Alaa (Zed), Ramy Rabia (Al Ain, UAE), Mohamed Abdel Moneim (Nice, France), Hossam Abdel Meguid and Ahmed Fatouh (Zamalek), Khaled Sobhi (Al Masry).
- For midfield: Hamdi Fathi (Al Wakrah, Qatar), Marwan Attia, Ahmed Sayed “Zizo” and Emam Ashour (Al Ahly), Islam Issa (Ceramica Cleopatra), Mohannad Lasheen (Pyramids), Mahmoud Saber (Zed).
- Forwards: Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet” (Al-Ahly), Omar Marmoush (Manchester City, England), Ibrahim Adel (Nordsjælland, Denmark), Haitham Hassan (Real Oviedo, Spain), Mostafa Mohamed (Nantes, France), Nasser Mansi (Zamalek).
