Egypt Throws Down the Gauntlet: Salah Out, Fresh Faces Ready for Saudi Arabia and Spain
21 March 2026
Egypt Names Squad for Saudi Arabia and Spain Friendly Matches
Hossam Hassan, head coach of the Egypt national team, has announced the Pharaohs squad for two March friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Spain as part of the teams international window preparations for upcoming commitments.
Egypt will face Saudi Arabia on March 27 in Jeddah, followed by a meeting with Spain on March 31 in Barcelona, blending a tough Arab test with a high profile European challenge.
The announcement noted that captain Mohamed Salah is unavailable due to an injury sustained while playing for his club in the Champions League, and the technical staff confirmed he will not join this camp.
On a positive note, the list includes several newcomers, such as keeper Mohamed Alaa from El Gouna, Tariq Alaa on loan from ZED, and Heitham Hassan of Real Oviedo, after long recruitment efforts to integrate new faces.
Mohamed Abdel Monem of Nice returns to bolster the defense after recovering from an ACL injury that kept him out since last April, adding experience to the back line.
The squad also marks a clear shift from the AFCON roster, with eight players omitted, including Mohamed Sobhi and Ahmed El Shenawy, Ahmed Eid, Mohamed Hamdi, Ahmed Shahat, Mostafa Fathi, Salah Mohsen, Osama Faisal, as the coaching staff reshapes the pool for the upcoming period.
Meanwhile, Nasser Mansi returns to the squad after a lengthy absence, having previously been called up under Rui Vitoria but did not feature, and Islam Essa returns after his prior friendly appearance.
The final call up showcases a balanced lineup across positions, with the following formation outlined: Goalkeepers are Mohamed El Shennawy, Mostafa Sobier, Mahdi Suleiman, Mohamed Alaa. Defenders include Mohamed Hany, Tariq Alaa, Ramy Rabia, Mohamed Abdel Monem, Yasser Ibrahim, Hesham Abdel Magid, Khaled Sobhi, Ahmed Fattouh, Ahmed Nabil Kouka. Midfielders are Hamdi Fathy, Marwan Attia, Mohand Lasheen, Mahmoud Saber, Ahmed Sayed Zizo, Imam Ashour, Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet, Omar Marmoush, Ibrahim Adel, Heitham Hassan, Islam Essa. Forwards are Mostafa Mohamed and Nasser Mansi.
What this means for Egypt ahead of qualifiers is a deliberate push to blend African experience with European exposure, aiming to secure depth in all lines while testing new talent for a busy calendar ahead.
Punchline time: if this squad list were a sniper's target, it would be aimed right at the back of the net. And if humor could score goals, these call ups would already have the trophy case open. Punchline 2: this is football politics with extra espresso; expect more changes before the whistle, and possibly a remix of the starting XI before kickoff.
