Al Masry hand new attacking signings starts against Smouha as Papy Badji leads visitors’ line

Salah Mohsen will lead Al Masry’s attack against Smouha in the opening round of the Egyptian Premier League, with new signings Khair El-Din Tawaal and Abdallah Ziani also named in the starting XI.

The match will begin at 20:00 Cairo time at Suez Stadium, where Al Masry manager Emad El Nahhas has confirmed his side for the opening fixture.

Al Masry’s starting line-up is:

Goalkeeper: Mahmoud Hamdy.

Defenders: Amr Saadawy, Khaled Sobhi, Baher El Mohamady and Karim El Iraqi.

Midfielders: Hassan Ali, Mahmoud Hamada and Ahmed El-Qarmouty.

Forwards: Khair El-Din Tawaal, Salah Mohsen and Abdallah Ziani.

Tawaal and Ziani are the two new attacking arrivals included from the start, while Mohsen occupies the central role in the front three.

Al Masry’s substitutes are Mohamed Ahmed Seha, Mohamed Shokry, Mohamed Makhlouf, Mohamed El Shamy, Monzer Tameen, Mohamed Hashem, Abdel Rahim Deghmoum, Hussein Faisal and Mostafa El Ash.

Smouha have also announced their starting line-up for the meeting, with Papy Badji selected to lead their attack.

Smouha’s team is:

Goalkeeper: Ahmed Meyhoub.

Defenders: Mohamed Desouky, Hisham Hafez, Mohamed Ragab and Abdel Rahman Amer.

Midfielders: Samadou Atedjiko, Mohamed Adel, Khaled El Ghandour and Amr El Sisi.

Forwards: Samir Fekry and Papy Badji.

The visitors will therefore begin with a two-man attacking partnership of Fekry and Badji, while Al Masry have opted for a front three featuring Tawaal, Mohsen and Ziani.

The fixture is the first league match of the campaign for both clubs. Al Masry finished last season fifth in the title-race section, while Smouha ended the previous campaign in seventh place in the same group.

Both sides have consequently begun the new season with established league positions to improve on, but the immediate focus will be on their opening-day selections and the impact of their attacking options.

For Al Masry, the inclusion of Tawaal and Ziani provides the headline team news before kick-off, with the pair handed starting places alongside Mohsen. Smouha’s main attacking decision is the selection of Badji, who will spearhead their challenge at Suez Stadium.