Egypt’s national football team finished preparations in readiness for their match against Burkina Faso at Cairo International Stadium at 10:00 PM Cairo Local Time on Thursday, as part of the third round of World Cup 2026 African qualifiers.
The Pharaohs have been placed in Group A alongside Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Sierra Leone.
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.
Prolific Liverpool scorer Mohamed Salah has been included in the Pharaohs’ squad for this month’s crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Salah is set to represent Egypt for the first time since an injury against Ghana in a group match cut short his AFCON campaign.
“Salah is one of the best footballers in the world and there is no rift between us,” said coach Hossam Hassan, who replaced Portuguese Rui Vitoria after a last-16 exit in Côte d’Ivoire.
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.
Egypt’s 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.
European clubs heroes, meanwhile, turned their attention to 2026 World Cup qualifying in Africa starting Wednesday with 52 fixtures scheduled over seven days.
Ademola Lookman scored a hat-trick as Atalanta won the Europa League last month, and ended a 51-match unbeaten run by Bayer Leverkusen in domestic and international competitions.
The London-born 26-year-old could lead the Nigeria attack at home to South Africa in Uyo in a repeat of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals won by the Super Eagles on penalties.
A week after Lookman stole the show in Dublin; Moroccan Ayoub el-Kaabi nodded the extra-time winner for Olympiakos against Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final in Athens.
He will be a contender for a place in the Atlas Lions attack against Zambia in Agadir in another Cup of Nations repeat with Morocco winning 1-0 in the Ivory Coast last January.
Meanwhile, Kenya is among 17 nations who must stage home matches at neutral venues due to sub-standard venues, stadium renovations or security issues.
Here, AFP Sport highlights five matchday three showdowns that include shock 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco and reigning African champions the Ivory Coast.
Nigeria v South Africa
A powerful Nigerian attack will lack its biggest star — 2023 African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen — through injury and Nathan Tella is absent for undisclosed personal reasons.
But with Lookman, Victor Boniface, Kelechi Iheanacho and Samuel Chukwueze to choose from, coach and former star Finidi George is not short of talent as he prepares for his competitive debut.
South Africa welcomes back forward Lyle Foster from demoted Premier League club Burnley, who missed the Cup of Nations due to mental health challenges.
Morocco v Zambia
A Hakim Ziyech goal separated the teams at the latest AFCON, where Morocco suffered a shock last-16 loss to South Africa and Zambia failed to make the knockout stage.
Key Moroccan figures in the 2022 World Cup run in Qatar, including goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, defender Achraf Hakimi and forward Youssef en-Nesyri remain.
Coach Walid Regragui also called up Brahim Diaz, an attacking midfielder at European titans Real Madrid for the clash with Zambia, who are on the back foot after a surprise away loss to Niger.
Senegal v DR Congo
Defending champions and among the favourites to win the 2024 AFCON, Senegal only reached the round of 16 before falling to hosts Ivory Coast after a penalty shootout.
Stalwarts like goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly and forward Sadio Mane — all based in Saudi Arabia — remain as the Teranga Lions seek redemption in World Cup qualifying.
The Congolese exceeded expectations by finishing fourth at the AFCON this year and hope Yoane Wissa can replicate his form with Premier League outfit Brentford.
Côte d’Ivoire v Gabon
Coach Emerse Fae has given maiden call-ups to a France-based trio — defender Christopher Operi and forwards Mohamed Bamba and Evann Guessand — for a Korhogo clash with Gabon.
But there are no places in the Cup of Nations title-holders squad for defenders Serge Aurier and Eric Bailly due to a lack of club game time, and winger Wilfried Zaha remains out of favour.
Star Marseille forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang — voted the outstanding African after the 2023-2024 Ligue 1 season — has been recalled having missed the first two matchdays.
