Egypt’s Tactical Shuffle Sends a Balanced Message against South Africa at AFCON 2025
26 December 2025
Lineup adjustments
Egypt's head coach Hossam Hassan unveils a balanced lineup for Friday's Africa Cup of Nations clash with South Africa, scheduled at Adrar stadium in Agadir, as the tournament unfolds in Morocco.
Two notable changes from the opener against Zimbabwe: Ramy Rabia comes in at center-back to reinforce the defense, while Ahmed Sayed Zizo shifts to a deeper attacking role to better connect midfield with the front line.
Starting XI
Goalkeeper: Mohamed El Shennawy.
Defense: Mohamed Hany, Ramy Rabia, Yasser Ibrahim, Mohamed Hamdi.
Midfield: Marwan Attia, Hamdi Fathy, Ahmed Sayed Zizo.
Attack: Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet, Omar Marmoush, Mohamed Salah.
Bench and reserves include: Ahmed El Shennawy, Mustafa Shoubi, Hossam Abdel Majid, Ahmed Eed, Khaled Sobhi, Ahmed Fattouh, Mohamed Shahat, Mohanned Lashine, Mahmoud Saber, Imam Ashour, Mustafa Fathi, Osama Faysal, Ibrahim Adel, Salah Mohsen, Mustafa Mohammed.
Egypt enters this match with the imperative to win and claim three points to help secure progression from the group after beating Zimbabwe 2-1 in the opener.
The group stage will conclude with a clash against Angola on Monday, where a positive result could seal top spot in the section.
Captaincy and form aside, the Pharaohs are banking on a compact defense and quick transitions to exploit a South Africa side known for physicality and pace.
On the bench, several influential options remain ready to impact the game as required, keeping the door open for tactical shifts during the 90 minutes.
And if you need a tiny morale boost: when this team lines up, even the net starts sweating in anticipation. Sniper-style precision, minus the drama—straight to the target.
Final quip: if the ball were a target, this squad would be sighted in the far corner every time. And yes, the crowd will remember the celebration more than the coffee they spilled while checking the scoreboard.
