Egypt are preparing for an important match against Malawi on Friday, November 13, 2026, at Cairo International Stadium in the third round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The match will mark Ali Maher's first official appearance as Egypt's head coach, making it an important early test for the new manager.

Attention is focused on Egypt's expected starting lineup, especially after reports suggested that Nasser Maher could be included from the beginning.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush are expected to play key roles in attack.

Egypt will look to make a strong start in front of their home supporters, control the game from the opening minutes, and create early scoring opportunities.

Nasser Maher Could Change Egypt's Starting Lineup

Recent media reports have revealed several possible options for Egypt's starting eleven against Malawi.

Most predictions suggest that Mostafa Shobier will start in goal, with Mohamed Hany, Rami Rabia, Hossam Abdelmaguid, and Ahmed Fattouh forming the defensive line.

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Marwan Attia and Mohanad Lasheen are also expected to feature in midfield, while the final attacking and midfield positions remain open to different options.

According to Egyptian television presenter Moheb Abdelhady, speaking on the MBC Masr program Al Laib, Ali Maher is considering starting Nasser Maher in midfield.

The decision could give Egypt another creative option, helping the team connect midfield with attack and create more chances.

If Nasser Maher starts, Ahmed Sayed Zizo could move into the attacking line alongside Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush.

This would leave Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet and Haitham Hassan as possible options from the bench.

However, other reports, including those linked to ON Sport, suggest that Zizo could remain in midfield, with Trezeguet joining Salah and Marmoush in attack.

Based on these reports, Egypt's expected starting lineup could be:

Goalkeeper: Mostafa Shobier.

Defenders: Mohamed Hany, Rami Rabia, Hossam Abdelmaguid, Ahmed Fattouh.

Midfielders: Marwan Attia, Mohanad Lasheen, Ahmed Sayed Zizo.

Forwards: Mohamed Salah, Omar Marmoush, Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet.

Another possible lineup would include Nasser Maher instead of Trezeguet, allowing Zizo to play further forward.

The official starting eleven has not yet been announced, and the final decision will depend on Ali Maher's tactical plans and the players' fitness.

Reports from Egypt's training camp suggest that the atmosphere among the players has been positive, with strong team spirit ahead of the match.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Abdelmonem has reportedly been training separately because of an injury, with the coaching staff monitoring his condition.

Ali Maher's First Test and Egypt's Qualification Ambitions

Ali Maher faces several challenges as he begins his new role with the national team.

One of the biggest problems is the limited preparation time, as he took charge only five days before his first official match.

The new coach must use the available training sessions to explain his ideas, improve the team's organization, and prepare the players for the upcoming matches.

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His main priorities are expected to include defensive stability, quick attacking transitions, and making the best use of Egypt's attacking players.

Mohamed Salah remains one of the most important figures in the squad because of his international experience, leadership, and ability to influence major matches.

Omar Marmoush is another key player, offering speed, movement, and attacking quality.

Ali Maher has already praised Salah, describing him as the best thing to happen to Egyptian football, highlighting the captain's importance to the national team.

Mohamed El Shenawy is also expected to play an important leadership role within the squad, even if Mostafa Shobier starts in goal.

Beyond the Malawi matches, Ali Maher must find the right balance between experienced players and younger talents.

The coach wants to improve the team while keeping the positive elements from the previous period, rather than making major changes immediately.

Egypt currently lead Group B with four points, ahead of Angola on goal difference.

Angola also have four points, while Malawi sit third with three points.

South Sudan are at the bottom of the group.

Egypt began their qualification campaign with a goalless draw against Angola before recording an impressive 5-0 victory over South Sudan.

A win against Malawi would strengthen Egypt's position at the top of the group before the return fixture on November 17.

Egypt also have a clear advantage in terms of squad market value.

Published estimates place Egypt's total squad value at around 118.85 million, while Malawi's squad is valued at approximately €1.5 million.

Some reports use different currencies for these figures.

Omar Marmoush is listed as Egypt's most valuable player at approximately €50 million, followed by Mohamed Salah at €17 million.

Haitham Hassan and Hamza Abdelkarim are each valued at around €8 million, according to the figures mentioned in the reports.

For Malawi, Charles Petro leads the list at approximately €700,000, followed by Lloyd Ngalewa at €175,000.

Gomezgani Chirwa and Denis Chembezi are each valued at around €75,000.

Despite this difference in market value, Egypt's coaching staff understand that the result will depend on performance, discipline, and taking advantage of scoring opportunities.

The first match between Egypt and Malawi is scheduled for Friday, November 13, at 9:00 PM Cairo time at Cairo International Stadium.

The return fixture is scheduled for Tuesday, November 17, at 3:00 PM.

The match will be broadcast by beIN Sports as part of its coverage of the African qualifiers.

For Ali Maher, the Malawi match is more than an opportunity to collect three points.

It is his first chance to test his tactical ideas, assess his players, and begin building a competitive team for the challenges ahead.