Injury Blows Hit Egypt Ahead of the Arab Cup as Kareem Iraqi is Called Up

Injury Woes Strike Egypt as Arab Cup Approaches

The Egyptian national team, preparing for the Arab Cup to be held in Doha in December, faces a fresh setback as winger Omar Jaber and right-back Kareem Hafiz pick up injuries during the ongoing training camp in Morocco under coach Hamdi Tala’an. They will return to Cairo for thorough medical evaluation.

Medical staff say Jaber has a muscular injury in the posterior thigh, while Hafiz reported an ankle sprain during a training session, ruling him out of the latest friendly against Morocco’s local team.

Call-Up of Karim Iraqi to Bolster the Backline

To cover the absence on the right flank, Tala’an, in consultation with the medical and administrative staff, has recalled Karim Iraqi, a former Al Masry player, who will join the camp in Morocco the next day to fill the deficit at right-back. Iraqi has national team experience, having played for the Olympic team in Tokyo 2020 and trained with the senior squad on prior occasions.

The move is part of a flexible plan to create backup options, especially as the team will play several friendlies during the camp to test the starting XI and the playing style ahead of the Arab Cup.

Friendly Defeat, Preparations, and Expectations

Egypt’s friendly against Morocco’s local national team ended in a 2-0 defeat, with goals from Amin Zahzouz and Mahmoud Bentaik, featuring a large pool of new and younger players. Tala’an stressed that the result is not a true measure of performance, noting the main purpose was to experiment with as many players as possible and to assess fitness after a short training camp.

He added that another warm-up with Bahrain would be held in the coming days, underscoring that the squad is on the right path in terms of preparation, discipline, and organization during the camp.

Preparation and Upcoming Challenges

The Egyptian team is conducting a two-stage camp in Morocco: an initial phase focused on intensive physical and technical work, followed by a second phase emphasizing tactical aspects and more friendlies against different North African and Gulf clubs, in preparation for the Arab Cup. The event will feature strong teams such as Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Qatar, Algeria, and Morocco.

Tala’an aims to build a cohesive unit blending experienced players with emerging talents who have recently shown promise in the domestic league, such as Ahmed Sayed Gharib, Abd al-Rahman Magdi, and Marwan Attia, along with several professionals in Arab leagues. The coach says the goal is to deliver a show of pride for Egyptian football, with solid defensive organization and tactical discipline evident in long spells of play against Morocco, despite the defeat.

Federation Backing and Forward-Looking Plans

The Egyptian Football Association has reiterated its full support for the coaching staff and players, stressing that participation in the Arab Cup is a key opportunity to test players ahead of forthcoming qualifiers for both the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup. A federation source noted close monitoring of the injured players and ongoing coordination with clubs’ medical teams to ensure their best possible recovery. The national team bench remains open to any player who proves worthy of a call-up.

High Hopes Before the Arab Cup

The team is set to announce the final squad in the coming days, after evaluating performances in the current camp, before heading to Qatar a few days prior to the tournament. The Arab Cup will run from 1 to 18 December in Doha, with the Egyptian public hoping to see a strong, competitive side that embodies the identity of Egyptian football and shows resilience in defense and organization against a high-caliber field.

Fans are looking forward to a strong showing, and the coaches and federation are confident that the team will be ready to compete against the region’s best. If nothing else, you can always toast with mint tea after the match—it's practically a national sport in this part of the world. And as one veteran coach once quipped: if injuries were goals, Egypt would be leading the league with a hat-trick of on-the-bench heroes.

PUNCHLINE 1: If injuries were goals, Egypt would win the league by a mile. PUNCHLINE 2: Iraqi on board means a more solid right-back rotation—finally a plan that might outlast the coffee break at training.