Egypt begin ‘new and difficult’ era with Africa Cup of Nations ambitions, says Abu Zahra

Egypt are entering a new and challenging phase, according to Egyptian Football Association board member Mostafa Abu Zahra, who believes the national side can win the next Africa Cup of Nations.

“Egypt are at the beginning of a new phase, and what is coming will be more difficult,” Abu Zahra said on On Sport.

He added: “We see ourselves as champions of the next Africa Cup of Nations.”

Egypt will begin their qualifying campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with matches against Angola and South Sudan on 25 and 29 September respectively.

Abu Zahra described the opening fixture against Angola as a particularly demanding test and said he hoped the Cairo International Stadium would be filled with supporters.

“The Angola match will be extremely difficult, and hopefully Cairo Stadium will be full of fans,” he said.

Egypt are also scheduled to play a friendly against South Africa on 4 October.

All of Egypt’s overseas-based players have arrived at the national team’s training camp, with the exception of Haytham Hassan of Scottish club Celtic, according to information previously obtained by FilGoal.

Nice defender Mohamed Abdelmonem was due to arrive in Cairo in the coming hours, while Hassan was expected to reach the capital on Tuesday before joining the squad’s training session immediately after his arrival.

Mohamed Salah has so far completed individual rehabilitation work in the gym and is expected to take part in team training on Tuesday.

Salah joined the Egypt camp after an impressive performance for Trabzonspor in their most recent match before the international break. He scored a hat-trick and provided the assist for his side’s fourth goal in their 4-0 victory over Galatasaray in the sixth round of the Turkish league.

The three goals took Salah’s tally for the season to seven, leaving him at the top of the Turkish league’s goalscoring standings.