Captain’s Armband Sparks New Chapter for Egypt in AFCON 2025 Clash
29 December 2025
Lineups and Captaincy
Hossam Hassan, Egypt's head coach, shuffled the Pharaohs' lineup for the Angola game tonight, the third and final match of Group B at AFCON 2025, hosted by Morocco.
Egypt had already secured a place in the last-16 by winning the first two games against Zimbabwe and South Africa.
That comfortable lead meant Hassan could blood several players who did not feature in the opening fixtures.
Salah Mohsen, the star of the Egyptian club, wore the captain's armband for the Angola match as the oldest player in the starting XI.
Hassan lined up as follows for Angola:
Goalkeeper: Mustafa Shobier.
Defence: Hossam Abdel-Magid, Mohamed Ismail, Khaled Sobhy, Ahmed Eid, Ahmed Fattouh.
Midfield: Mahmoud Saber, Mohand Lashine, Ibrahim Adel.
Attack: Salah Mohsen – Mostafa Mohamed.
Mohsen captains Egypt for the first time since a 2017 friendly against Morocco under Argentine coach Hector Cuper.
The move signals a blend of youth and experience, with Mohsen expected to lead by example as the group advances.
Off the pitch, captaincy is about direction and calm, not a loudspeaker; the armband-friendly squad will decide if this choice sticks.
Stay tuned.
Punchline: If leadership comes with an armband and a trophy, Salah Mohsen just earned both—plus a lifetime supply of locker-room jokes.
Punchline: And if the team wins, the armband might finally get a vacation—on the bench!
