Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan has named a 24-man squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Ethiopia and Sierra Leone, scheduled for March 21 and 25.
However, the selection has ignited debate, with key omissions raising eyebrows among fans and analysts.
Squad Highlights and Notable Omissions
Hassan’s squad features a strong domestic core, including six players from Al Ahly and five from Zamalek, alongside six foreign-based players.
National Bank of Egypt FC goalkeeper Abdel Aziz El Balouti has earned his first call-up, while Al Ahly’s Emam Ashour—currently leading the league’s scoring charts with nine goals—has been surprisingly left out.
Among other notable absentees is Pyramids FC goalkeeper Ahmed El Shenawy, who has been in fine form but did not make the cut. Al Ahly’s Karim El Debes, a natural left-back, was also omitted despite Egypt lacking options in that position.
Additionally, experienced Zamalek full-back Omar Gaber was overlooked, despite his versatility in defense.
Full Egypt Squad
Goalkeepers:
- Mohamed El Shenawy
- Mohamed Awad
- Mostafa Shobeir
- Abdel Aziz El Balouti
Defenders:
- Mohamed Hany
- Ahmed Eid
- Mohamed Abdel Monem
- Rami Rabia
- Khaled Sobhi
- Hossam Abdelmaguid
- Ahmed Nabil Kouka
Midfielders:
- Marwan Attia
- Mohamed Shehata
- Hamdy Fathy
- Nabil Dunga
- Mahmoud Saber
- Ahmed Sayed Zizo
- Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet
- Omar Marmoush
- Ibrahim Adel
- Mohamed Salah
- Mostafa Fathi
Forwards:
- Mostafa Mohamed
- Osama Faisal
Egypt’s Qualification Path
The Pharaohs currently top Group A with 10 points after four matches, boasting three wins and one draw. They will host Ethiopia on March 21 at 11:00 PM before facing Sierra Leone on March 25 at 9:00 PM at the Cairo International Stadium.
With qualification on the line, Hassan’s controversial squad choices will be under close scrutiny as Egypt aims to secure a spot in the next round of qualifiers.
Let’s go 🙌 Here’s #ThePharaohs‘ squad for the Ethiopia and Sierra Leone matches in the World Cup qualifiers 2026 🇪🇬#egyptnt pic.twitter.com/QFc8fYeXhO
— Egypt National Team (@EgyptNT_EN) March 15, 2025
