Change in Egypt squad with Bafana friendly looming

Egypt have made a late change to their squad after veteran defender Hamdy Fathy withdrew with an injury ahead of their opening two 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and next month’s friendly against Bafana Bafana.

Coach Hossam Hassan has replaced Fathy with Italian-based defender Omar Fayed, who joined Frosinone in Serie A this season after previously playing at clubs in Serbia, Belgium and Portugal.

Fathy is a past African Champions League winner with Al Ahli of Cairo but is now on the books of Al Wakrah in Qatar and was at the World Cup in mid-year.

Hassan kept 22 of the players who were part of Egypt’s World Cup selection, with Al Ahly midfielder Ali Mahmoud and back-up goalkeeper Abdelaziz El-Balouty the two new additions, while Mohamed El-Shenawy, Yasser Ibrahim, Nabil Emad Donga and Mahmoud Trezeguet were left out.

El Shenawy, Ibrahim and Trezeguet are injured.

Egypt kick off their group B qualifying campaign against Angola on Friday at Cairo International Stadium before travelling to face South Sudan in Juba Stadium on Tuesday.

Their friendly against Bafana Bafana is on Sunday, 4 October.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Mohamed Alaa (Ceramica Cleopatra), Abdelaziz El Balouty (National Bank Egypt), Mostafa Shobeir (Al Ahly), Mahdi Soliman (Zamalek)

Defenders: Hossam Abdelmaguid (Ludogorets Razgrad, Bulgaria), Mohamed Abdelmonem (Nice, France), Tarek Alaa (ZED), Ahmed Fattouh (Zamalek), Omar Fayed (Frosinone, Italy), Karim Hafez (Pyramids), Mohamed Hany (Al Ahly), Rami Rabia (Al Ain, United Arab Emirates),

Midfielders: Emam Ashour, Marwan Attia (both Al Ahly), Mohanad Lasheen (Pyramids), Ali Mahmoud (Al Ahly), Mahmoud Saber (Pyramids), Ahmed ‘Zizo’ Sayed (Al Ahly), Mostafa Zico (Pyramids)

Forwards: Hamza Abdelkarim (Barcelona, Spain), Ibrahim Adel (Nordsjaelland, Denmark), Haissem Hassan (Celtic, Scotland), Omar Marmoush (Tottenham Hotspur, England), Mohamed Salah (Trabzonspor, Turkey).