Egypt’s Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhi witnessed the training of the national football team in preparation for their match against Burkina Faso at Cairo International Stadium at 10:00 PM Cairo Local Time on June 6th, as part of the third round of the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
“We fully support the national team, including all its players and the coaching staff led by Hossam Hassan, in the upcoming national mission,” Sobhi said.
The Pharaohs have been placed in Group A alongside Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Sierra Leone.
“We wish them all the best in winning both matches, maintaining their group lead, and continuing the recent successes of Egyptian sports, which have been crowned with the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup titles, as well as achieving championships in individual and team sports across all levels,” the top official added.
Sobhi noted that everything necessary will be provided to ensure the team’s successful qualification for the World Cup and to showcase a performance that reflects the progress of Egyptian football under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
He also expressed his confidence in the capabilities of the players and the coaching staff to meet the aspirations of the Egyptian fans.
The minister called on all Egyptian fans, regardless of their affiliations, to support the national team against Burkina Faso next Thursday from the Stadium.
Currently, they lead Group A with six points from two games played. They secured win in their first two qualifying matches against Djibouti 6-0 in the first round and Sierra Leone 2-0 in the second round.
He emphasised that the appropriate environment will be provided to support the coaching staff led by Hassan.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah has been included in Egypt’s squad for this month’s crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Niger and Djibouti.
The Liverpool star missed the Pharaohs’ friendlies in March due to injury but is back in the fold as Egypt aim to strengthen their grip on Group A.
Salah’s return is a major boost for Hassan, who also hands a first senior call-up to Ibrahim Adel after the Pyramids winger starred for the U-23 side that reached last year’s Africa Cup of Nations final.
However, there is no place in the 26-man squad for Al-Ahly full-back Omar Kamal, who featured regularly under former boss Carlos Queiroz.
Egypt currently top their qualifying section with six points from wins over Djibouti and Sierra Leone last November.
But with only the group winners guaranteed to progress automatically to the 2026 finals in the USA, Canada and Mexico, Hassan knows his side cannot afford any slip-ups.
The record seven-time African champions host Niger in Cairo on 15 June before heading to Djibouti City four days later as they look to open up a commanding advantage at the top of Group A.
Salah will be desperate to play a leading role on his return after an injury-disrupted second half of the season at Anfield.
The 30-year-old has understandably been criticized for his form of late but his enduring quality makes him a game-changing presence for the Pharaohs as they bid to qualify for their fourth World Cup.
With Niger and Djibouti expected to provide stubborn opposition despite limited pedigree, Hassan knows Egypt’s hopes could rest on getting the best out of talismanic figures like Salah over the remaining qualifiers.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Mohamed el-Shenawy, Mostafa Shobeir, Mohamed Awad, and El-Mahdi Soliman.
Defenders: Mohamed Abdelmonem, Ramy Rabia, Yasser Ibrahim, Ahmed Ramadan ‘Beckham’, Mohamed Hany, Akram Tawfik, Mohamed Hamdy, and Ahmed Fatouh.
Midfielders: Marwan Ateya, Hamdy Fathi, Ahmed Nabil Kouka, Emam Ashour, Ahmed Sayed Zizo, Nasser Maher, Ibrahim Adel, Mohamed Salah, Mostafa Fathi, and Mahmoud Trezeguet.
Forwards: Mostafa Mohamed, Mohamed el-Shamy, Ahmed Amin Oufa, and Mohamed Sherif.
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