Egypt’s national football team is set to take on Cape Verde and Botswana in their opening matches of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2025 qualifiers, with star forward Mohamed Salah leading the squad. The Pharaohs, under the guidance of coach Hossam Hassan, will first face Cape Verde in Cairo on September 6, before traveling to Francistown to play Botswana on September 10.
Salah, who did not participate in the 2024 Olympic Games, remains the focal point of Egypt’s squad.
Joining him are two promising young players who made their mark at the Paris Olympics—midfielder Mohamed Shehata from Zamalek and goalkeeper Hamza Alaa from Al Ahly.
Both 23 years old and new to the senior national team, they have been called up by Hassan for the first time and are expected to make an impact as Egypt looks to secure crucial victories in Group C.
“Alaa’s outstanding performance during the Olympics, where he recorded 21 saves, and Shehata’s dynamism in midfield, have earned them well-deserved spots in this competitive squad,” said Hassan.
“This is an important moment for them as they transition from the U23s to the senior team.”
Another notable inclusion is striker Osama Faisal, also part of Egypt’s Olympic squad, who returns to the national setup after a year-long absence.
Faisal, 23, has a unique opportunity to further establish himself as a key forward.
Khaled Sobhi, a 29-year-old central defender from Cleopatra FC, also receives his first-ever call-up, adding experience to Egypt’s defense.
Sobhi’s inclusion follows his strong performances in the domestic league.
The return of veteran midfielder Mohamed Elneny, 32, marks another key change in the squad.
The former Arsenal player, who last featured for Egypt during the Africa Cup of Nations, has recently signed with Al-Jazira in the UAE and will bring his wealth of experience and leadership to the team.
Elneny captained the Olympic squad and is expected to play a critical role in stabilizing the midfield.
In attack, Mostafa Mohamed, who was sidelined in June with a knee injury sustained during a 1-1 draw against Guinea-Bissau, is also included in the squad.
The FC Nantes forward appears to have recovered well, having scored in a friendly against Lorient earlier in August and making a substitute appearance for Nantes in their Ligue 1 opener against Toulouse.
With a strong roster in place, Egypt’s aim is clear: maximum points from their opening two matches.
Despite being the favorites on paper, the Pharaohs will need to be cautious of Cape Verde, a team that reached the quarterfinals of the last Africa Cup of Nations and held Egypt to a 2-2 draw during the group stage.
Botswana, considered a less formidable opponent, has shown its potential to cause upsets, as demonstrated by their surprising 1-0 victory over Guinea during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Egypt, meanwhile, will be seeking redemption after their recent 1-1 draw with Guinea-Bissau in June.
The Pharaohs are eager to start their AFCON 2025 qualifying campaign on a strong note as they look to secure early dominance in a group that also includes Mauritania, who narrowly lost to Sadio Mané’s Senegal last June.
Egypt’s training camp begins on August 28, giving the squad time to gel before their first match against Cape Verde.
With Salah at the helm and new talents making their debut, the team will look to prove its superiority and make a statement in the qualifiers.
🚨 OFFICIEL ! La liste de l’Égypte pour les éliminatoires à la CAN 2025. 🇪🇬📄
Suite aux JO de nombreux jeunes font leur apparition pour la 1ère fois en A, notamment : Osama Faisal, Hamza Alaa et Mohamed Shehata. 💎🆕#CAN2025 | #AFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/xpc82Vs2Xz
— Onze Masr 🇪🇬 (@onzemasr) August 23, 2024
