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Hossam Hassan Prepares the Pharaohs for AFCON.. Four Teams on the Table for October Friendly

23/8/2026
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By: Assem Magdy
.News
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Egypt are entering a new phase of preparation for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, with moves aimed at providing greater stability for the technical staff led by Hossam Hassan while establishing a gradual preparation programme combining competitive fixtures with another African friendly in October.

Reports have indicated that the Egyptian Football Association is preparing to announce contract renewals for the senior national team’s coaching staff, a move that would underline its desire for continuity and give Hossam Hassan and his assistants the opportunity to continue their work without major technical changes.

Stability Before the Qualifiers

Egypt’s preparations will move into full swing when the national team camp begins on September 17, ahead of their opening two matches in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The Pharaohs are scheduled to face Angola on September 25 in their opening fixture before taking on South Sudan on September 29 in the second round.

The South Sudan match will be played at Juba National Stadium in the capital, with Egypt looking to secure a strong early result and establish themselves as frontrunners in the group.

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Hossam Hassan is also expected to use the camp to improve cohesion among his selected players and continue developing the tactical ideas he wants the team to adopt throughout the qualifying campaign and eventually at the continental tournament.

African Friendly in October

Following the two competitive fixtures, Egypt’s coaching staff are planning another test on October 4 or 5 as part of their long-term preparation programme.

Four African national teams are currently under consideration: Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda, with one set to be selected as Egypt’s friendly opponent.

Facing African opposition is particularly valuable for the coaching staff, as it would expose the squad to different styles from across the continent while providing a test that more closely resembles the challenges Egypt can expect at AFCON.

Between securing continuity within the coaching staff, the September training camp, the qualifiers against Angola and South Sudan, and the planned October friendly, Egypt’s roadmap for the coming period is becoming increasingly clear: stability, continuity and competitive preparation as the Pharaohs build towards AFCON 2027.