According to several media outlets, head coach Hossam Hassan is considering calling up four new faces for the November camp, including Omar El Saai (Al Ahly) and Mahmoud Mamdouh (Modern Sport). He and his national team director are suspended for both matches against Malawi.
The list is not yet finalised, but the names are circulating. A week before the official announcement, scheduled for 8 November, several Egyptian media outlets are reporting four new arrivals in head coach Hossam Hassan’s sights: Omar El Saai, Tawfik Mohamed and Ahmed Eid, all three at Al Ahly, as well as Mahmoud Mamdouh, of Modern Sport, according to Youm7.
For now it is a rumour. A national team source quoted by FilGoal nevertheless claims that “محمود ممدوح مهاجم مودرن سبورت وثنائي الأهلي عمر الساعي وأحمد عيد ضمن حسابات الجهاز الفني لمنتخب مصر”, meaning that the Modern Sport striker and the Al Ahly duo are in the technical staff’s plans.
El Saai on a good run
Among the profiles being studied, Omar El Saai arrives on an interesting run. According to Asharq, he has scored 3 goals in 3 consecutive matches for Al Ahly, including one in the Confederation Cup and two in the league. Enough to back up his case.
Tawfik Mohamed and Ahmed Eid complete the trio supplied by the Cairo club. Mahmoud Mamdouh, for his part, is the top scorer in the Egyptian league with Modern Sport.
In goal, the name of Ahmed Shenawy, the Pyramids FC goalkeeper, is also circulating. He is tipped according to El Watan News, which credits him with 4 goals conceded in 8 league matches, while El Balad counts 4 in 12 matches. A national team source even tells FilGoal that “الأقرب لقائمة المنتخب حتى الآن عدم ضم الثنائي محمد الشناوي وأحمد الشناوي”, meaning the possibility that the two Shenawys will not be in the final list.
A staff without a bench
The context is unusual. According to FilGoal, Hossam Hassan and national team director Ibrahim Hassan are suspended for both matches against Malawi, following the incidents in the Egypt-Argentina match, lost 3-2 in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup. The two men receive 3-match suspensions, while Mustapha Ziko is handed a 5-match sanction.
The head coach will therefore have to prepare his squad without being able to take his place on the bench during this double header.
The camp will begin on 9 November at the National Teams Centre, a day after the announcement of the list, according to Youm7, Cairo24 and FilGoal.
Malawi, then AFCON 2027
Egypt host Malawi on 13 November at Cairo Stadium at 21:00, before the return match on 17 November at Bingu International Stadium, at 15:00 local time in Malawi. These two matches count for the 3rd and 4th matchdays of the AFCON 2027 qualifiers.
Egypt lead Group 2 with 4 points after two matchdays: a 0-0 draw against Angola in Cairo, then a 5-0 away win against South Sudan. Malawi sit 3rd with 3 points, and South Sudan bring up the rear without a single point, according to FilGoal.
Meanwhile, the presence of Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah at the camp remains up in the air. The Minister of Youth and Sports, Gohar Nabil, discussed the importance of his presence with the president of the Egyptian Football Association (EFA), Hany Abou Rida. According to Youm7, the ministry’s spokesman, Mohamed El Chazly, describes him as a “symbol, captain and ambassador” of the national team, and expects a role from him “on the pitch and off it, and even on the bench”. His call-up is not confirmed at this stage.