Mokwena names Pyramids squad for Turkey training camp without World Cup trio

South African coach Rhulani Mokwena has selected a Pyramids FC squad missing several international players for the club’s pre-season training camp in Turkey ahead of the new campaign.

The Egyptian side will hold their main pre-season preparations in the city of Erzurum, with the camp running from 23 July to 9 August as Mokwena shapes his squad for the upcoming season’s competitions.

Pyramids will travel with three goalkeepers: Ahmed El-Shenawy, Mahmoud Gad and Ziad Haitham.

The defensive line for the camp features Mahmoud Marei, Ahmed Samy, Osama Galal, Mohamed El-Shibi and Mohamed Hamdy.

In midfield, Mokwena has called up a large group comprising Mostafa Fathi, Ahmed Tawfik, Mahmoud Saber, Mahmoud Zalaka, Walid El Karti, Abdelrahman Magdy, Ahmed Atef Qatta, Awda Fakhoury, Everton Da Silva, Hamed Hamdan, Pascal Fery, Hassan Tarek, Youssef Mesho, Ahmed Fawzy and Ziad Saudi.

The attacking options are limited to two forwards: Youssef Ibrahim “Obama” and Dodo El Gabbas.

Camp to fill up after extended rest

The club has confirmed that the pre-season group will only be at full strength from 29 July, once a number of players have completed an additional rest period granted to them at the end of last season.

Those absentees include three Pyramids players who have just returned from international duty with Egypt at the 2026 World Cup: Mostafa Ziko, Karim Hafez and Mohanad Lasheen.

The trio took part in the tournament with the national team and have been given extra time off before rejoining club preparations, meaning they will miss the early days of the Erzurum camp.

Background to Pyramids’ preparations

The Turkish camp forms a central part of Pyramids’ build-up as they look to be ready for the start of the new domestic season and their continental commitments.

Mokwena, who took charge of Pyramids with a reputation as one of South Africa’s most promising coaches, will use the period in Erzurum to assess his squad, work on fitness and tactics, and integrate any returning players once their rest period ends.

The decision to travel without the club’s recent internationals underlines the coaching staff’s concern with managing workloads after a long year that has included World Cup duty for some of the squad.

Despite those absences, Pyramids have named a sizeable group across all positions to ensure full training sessions and the opportunity to play warm-up matches in Turkey before returning to Egypt for final preparations ahead of the new season.