Mohamed Salah is absent from the Egyptian national team squad for the matches against Saudi Arabia and Spain
Shock for fans: Mohamed Salah absent from the Pharaohs' camp
In an announcement that sparked considerable interest in Egyptian and Arab sports circles, Ibrahim Hassan, the director of the Egyptian national football team, confirmed that global star and Pharaohs' captain, Mohamed Salah, who plays for Liverpool FC, will be excluded from the coaching staff's plans for the March training camp. This strategic decision stems from the player's recent injury and aims to ensure he completes his treatment and rehabilitation program with his club, guaranteeing his full physical and technical readiness for upcoming official matches.
Other significant absences in the national team ranks
The absence wasn't limited to the national team captain; the absence of the talented left-back Mohamed Hamdy, star of Pyramids FC, was also confirmed after he suffered a serious cruciate ligament injury, a significant blow to the Egyptian national team's defense. These absences present the new coaching staff with an early challenge in finding suitable replacements and preparing new players capable of filling the gaps in both defense and attack.
The beginning of a new era and high-caliber friendly tests
The March training camp is of paramount importance, marking the official start of the new era under the leadership of national coach Hossam Hassan and his brother Ibrahim Hassan, following the dismissal of Portuguese coach Rui Vitória after the team's early and disappointing exit from the recent Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. The new coaching staff aims to restore the prestige of Egyptian football and build a strong, competitive generation of players.
As part of their intensive preparations for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the Egyptian national team will play two high-profile friendly matches. The first will be against their Saudi Arabian counterparts in a thrilling Arab derby that will attract widespread regional attention, while the second will be a true global test against Spain, the former world and European champions. Both matches will take place on March 27th and 31st, providing the Pharaohs with valuable international experience.
The official squad list for the Egyptian national team for the March camp
The Egyptian national team's coaching staff officially announced the list of players selected to join the training camp starting on March 22. The list features a mix of experienced and young players, and the names are as follows:
- Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy, Mostafa Shobeir, El Mahdi Soliman, Mohamed Awad.
- Defense line: Mohamed Hany, Ramy Rabia, Mohamed Abdelmonem, Yasser Ibrahim, Hossam Abdelmaguid, Khaled Sobhi, Ahmed Fatouh.
- Midfielders: Ahmed Nabil Kouka, Hamdi Fathi, Marwan Attia, Mohannad Lasheen, Mahmoud Saber, Emam Ashour, Ahmed Sayed Zizo.
- Forwards: Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet, Omar Marmoush, Ibrahim Adel, Haitham Hassan, Islam Issa, Mostafa Mohamed, Nasser Mansi.
Expected impact and hopes
Locally and regionally, fans eagerly await Hossam Hassan's tactical approach with the national team. Despite the absence of Mohamed Salah, the squad boasts prominent players who shine in European and domestic leagues, such as Mostafa Mohamed, Omar Marmoush, and Trezeguet. This bodes well for the team's ability to deliver a respectable performance against formidable opponents like Saudi Arabia and Spain, and to progress towards achieving their dream of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
