Injury Storm Hits Egypt as Cape Verde Clash Looms

Injuries Hit Egypt Ahead of Cape Verde Clash

Egypt’s national team, led by coach Hossam Hassan, is battling three injuries in the days leading up to the Cape Verde match—the third-place decider in the Eye Cup friendly tournament held in the United Arab Emirates.

Egypt was beaten 2-0 by Uzbekistan in yesterday’s semi-final, with Uzbekistan’s Austin Oronov scoring both goals against goalkeeper Mohamed Sobhi.

Cape Verde had previously lost to Iran on penalties (4-5) after a goalless draw in the semi-finals.

The head of the medical staff, Dr. Mohamed Abu Al-Ala, told the federation’s press office that three players reported injuries after the Uzbekistan game.

Hamdi Fathi complained of a calf muscle issue during warm-ups before the Uzbekistan clash.

Ahmed Mustafa, nicknamed “Zizo,” is troubled by knee tendinopathy around the joint, while striker Salah Mohsen reported a hamstring problem.

Absences Mount

The team faces a wave of absences in November camp due to injuries, including Mahmoud Hasan “Trezeguet,” who pulled a hamstring after the Super Cup final against Zamalek.

Ibrahim Adel was left out, and two players from Pyramids FC—Mohamed Lassine and Mustafa Fathi—were ruled out due to injuries, along with Ahmed Eid and Amr El-Gazar from other clubs.

Coach Hassan also noted that Mohamed El-Shenawy, the goalkeeper of Al Ahly, complained of groin pain after participating in the Egyptian Super Cup and was not selected for the Uzbekistan match for this reason.

Omar Marmoush, a Manchester City forward, missed Uzbekistan’s game due to a late arrival in the training camp in the UAE to attend an engagement in Aswan last week.

Mohamed Abdel Monem, a defender from Nice, remains not fully match-fit following ligament injury in April, and Imam Ashour of Al Ahly has been sidelined by a health issue.

Hassan’s Assessment

In television interviews after the Uzbekistan game, Hassan stressed that there are many positives for Egypt despite the loss, noting that they played without a full squad and faced a team playing modern, fast football. He expressed complete confidence in the players he calls up for Egypt and praised the performances of Marwan Osman and Mahmoud Abdel-Hafiz “Zlaaka” in the Uzbekistan match.

He added that new players should be integrated into the squad in a measured way before the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025, and that he watches the league in full to select the best and most suitable elements to meet the Pharaohs’ needs.

Hassan emphasized that the Uzbekistan game was a crucial test for testing potential injuries-in-waiting replacements in case of AFCON setbacks, noting some individual errors during the match.

He urged the Egyptian fans to trust and support the team ahead of AFCON, stressing that the coaching staff seeks the best possible performance and that a loss can be acceptable if the level on display is strong.

AFCON Preparations

Egypt’s journey continues as they prepare for the Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted by Morocco from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026. The Pharaohs are drawn in Group B alongside South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe, opening their campaign against Zimbabwe, then facing South Africa and Angola on December 22, 26 and 29 respectively.

Egypt aims to win the Africa Cup of Nations for the eighth time, following titles in 1957 and 1959, with a brief but notable revival as hosts in 1986 and the triumph in 1998 under coach Mahmoud El-Johari. The golden era under Hassan Shehata saw three consecutive AFCON titles (2006, 2008, 2010). The team has not lifted the title since 2010, finishing as runners-up in 2017 under Héctor Cúper and in 2021 under Carlos Queiroz after a penalty shootout loss to Senegal.

Notably, under Hassan Hassan, Egypt secured a World Cup berth for the summer, with the tournament taking place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Note: With this many injuries, the medical room might start demanding shares in the squad photo.

Punchline 1: If injuries were players, Egypt would have a full squad by now—and still have room for the physiotherapist’s dream team.

Punchline 2: They say football is two halves; for Egypt, it’s more like a whole season’s worth of injuries and still a dream for AFCON glory.