's coaching staff announced squad for the upcoming friendly match against Saudi Arabia. The selection included some pleasant surprises for fans, with four new faces making their mark. This strategic move reflects the coaching staff's desire to inject fresh blood into the team and discover young talent capable of providing innovative tactical solutions in the coming period, especially given the increasing continental and international challenges.
Promising blood strengthens the Egyptian national team's roster
Professional player Haitham Hassan, who plays for Spanish club Real Oviedo, tops the list of newly called-up players. His impressive performances in European leagues have caught the eye of the coaching staff. Haitham is distinguished by his tactical flexibility and his exceptional ability to play in multiple attacking positions, giving the national team additional options. Nasser Mansi, the Zamalek striker, also joins the squad after his outstanding performances in the domestic league, demonstrating his ability to be decisive inside the penalty area. In goal, Mohamed Ali, the El Gouna goalkeeper, was called up thanks to his crucial saves and consistent performance. The new faces are completed by Tarek Alaa, the Zed FC full-back, who represents a modern option on the flanks thanks to his tireless work rate and his balance between defense and attack.
A history full of intense clashes between the Pharaohs and the Green
The match between Egypt and Saudi Arabia is not just a casual friendly; it's an extension of a long history of intense and exciting football rivalry between the two Arab nations. Historically, the two teams have met on several major occasions that have left a lasting impression on fans, most notably their encounter in the 1999 Confederations Cup in Mexico and their thrilling group stage match in the 2018 World Cup in Russia. This historical background adds a special competitive edge to the game, making it a true test of the new players' abilities under the intense public and media pressure that always accompanies major Arab football derbies.
Strategic dimensions of Saudi Arabia's friendly matches in preparation for the 2026 World Cup
This match is of paramount importance both regionally and internationally, serving as a key preparatory step in the Pharaohs' plan to prepare for the 2026 World Cup finals. The match will take place next Friday evening at 7:30 PM and will be a golden opportunity for the coaching staff to assess the cohesion between the professional and local players. This step comes ahead of the highly anticipated international friendly against Brazil in Cleveland on June 6th. It's worth noting that the World Cup draw placed the Egyptian national team in Group G, alongside Belgium, New Zealand, and Iran, requiring top-level physical and technical preparation to compete against these diverse footballing styles.
Full squad details for the Pharaohs
Here is the full list of those called up for the camp:
- Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy and Mostafa Shobeir (Al Ahly), El Mahdi Soliman (Zamalek), Mohamed Ali (El Gouna).
- Defense line: 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).
- Midfielders: 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).
