Former Egypt coach Diaa El-Sayed backs Hamza Abdel Karim’s inclusion in World Cup plans

Former Egypt coach Diaa El-Sayed has backed the inclusion of young forward Hamza Abdel Karim in the Pharaohs’ preliminary squad ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking to Modern TV, Diaa El-Sayed highlighted the developmental value of bringing emerging talents into the senior national team environment under head coach Hossam Hassan.

He stressed that Hamza Abdel Karim’s involvement at this stage is less about immediate impact and more about long-term growth, noting that exposure to senior international football will significantly accelerate his development.

“The benefit of Hamza Abdel Karim will be in the future. His presence in the Egyptian national team at a young age, as a promising player, is a very good and very important step by Hossam Hassan,” he said.

El-Sayed also pointed to the learning opportunities available within the current squad, especially the chance for the teenager to train alongside senior stars such as Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush. He believes such interactions will play a key role in shaping the youngster’s mentality and professionalism.

“He will have the opportunity to sit with Mohamed Salah and benefit from his advice, as well as sit with Marmoush. He will also see the senior players in the national team, and I think Hamza will benefit greatly,” he added.

The former coach also addressed discussions around striker selection, particularly the situation of Mostafa Mohamed, emphasizing that squad decisions ultimately rest with the technical staff and their tactical vision.

“Mostafa Mohamed is a great player with a long history with the national team, but his time with Hossam Hassan is not yet complete,” he noted, underlining that selection choices are based on the coach’s strategy and not external expectations.

El-Sayed further praised the goalkeeping options available to Egypt, pointing to Mohamed El Shenawy and Mostafa Shobeir as a well-prepared duo capable of handling the demands of a major tournament.

With the 2026 World Cup approaching, Egypt’s preparation continues to attract attention, particularly around the integration of young talents like Hamza Abdel Karim alongside established stars, as the team looks to balance experience with long-term planning.