Mohamed Abdelmonem ruled out as Egypt travel to South Sudan for 2027 Afcon qualifier

Egypt will be without Mohamed Abdelmonem for their second 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against South Sudan, with the defender joining Mohamed Salah on the list of absentees.

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) confirmed that Abdelmonem will not travel after receiving a medical report from his club, OGC Nice. The central defender has recently returned from a serious cruciate ligament injury and has been strongly advised not to play on an artificial surface.

The EFA and the national team’s medical staff opted not to take any risks with the player’s fitness, choosing a cautious approach to protect his longer-term recovery.

Abdelmonem’s withdrawal further reduces Egypt’s options for an important away fixture. The Pharaohs were already preparing for the match without Mohamed Salah, meaning they will now be missing a key attacking player and an established presence in central defence.

The absences will force Egypt to revise their tactical plans, with a reshuffled centre-back partnership required to cope with the demanding synthetic pitch in South Sudan.