Hossam Hassan is putting the final touches on Egypt’s plan ahead of the clash against Angola, as the Pharaohs prepare to begin their qualifying campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

Egypt will host Angola at Cairo International Stadium at 10:00 PM on Friday, September 25, with the national team looking for a strong start and the first three points of the qualifying campaign.

Early signs from the Egypt camp suggest that several positions are close to being decided. However, questions remain over the midfield setup and Mohamed Salah’s role, especially with several absences forcing the coaching staff to adjust their plans.

Absences Force Changes

Egypt will be without Marwan Attia because of suspension, leaving Hossam Hassan with an important gap to fill in midfield.

The situation is made more difficult by the absence of other key players, including Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet, Hamdy Fathy and Yasser Ibrahim. Those absences have pushed the coaching staff to consider more than one tactical setup against Angola.

Mohannad Lasheen appears to be the leading option for the defensive midfield role and could become one of the key players in Egypt’s system.

In goal, Mostafa Shobeir is expected to be the main candidate to start. The defensive line also appears more settled, with Mohamed Hany at right-back, Ahmed Fatouh on the left, and Mohamed Abdelmonem and Rami Rabia in central defence.

The biggest question remains in midfield.

One possible setup would see Mohannad Lasheen, Mahmoud Saber and Emam Ashour playing together. That option would allow Mohamed Salah to return to his familiar attacking position on the right wing.

The second possibility would see Lasheen partnering Emam Ashour in midfield, while Salah moves into a deeper and more central attacking role. Such a setup could open the door for Ahmed Sayed Zizo to start on the right side of the attack.

Salah Holds the Key

Mohamed Salah’s position could ultimately decide the shape of Egypt’s starting lineup against Angola.

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If Hossam Hassan chooses to start Mahmoud Saber in midfield, Salah would have more freedom to return to the right wing, with Mostafa Ziko and Omar Marmoush also among the main attacking options.

That would allow the Egypt captain to operate closer to the penalty area and attack from the position where he is most familiar.

However, if Mahmoud Saber does not start, Salah could move into a more central position behind the attacking line, with Zizo potentially joining Ziko and Marmoush further forward.

The difference between the two possible lineups is therefore not simply about replacing one player with another. It could change Egypt’s entire attacking approach.

Using Salah on the right gives Egypt a player who can cut inside, attack the box and create chances from wide areas. Playing him centrally, however, could help Egypt connect midfield with attack and give him more freedom to influence the game from different areas.

Hossam Hassan also has several players capable of operating in more than one position, giving the coach the chance to change his system during the match depending on Angola’s approach and the direction of the game.

Based on the current indications, Mostafa Shobeir is the leading candidate to start in goal, with Mohamed Hany, Rami Rabia, Mohamed Abdelmonem and Ahmed Fatouh forming the expected back four. Mohannad Lasheen is also strongly placed to start in midfield.

The remaining decisions are likely to depend heavily on whether Mahmoud Saber starts and where Mohamed Salah is used, with Emam Ashour, Ahmed Sayed Zizo, Mostafa Ziko and Omar Marmoush all among the leading candidates for starting roles.

Egypt head into the Angola match with a simple target: start the qualifying campaign with a victory at home and build early momentum.

With several absences forcing changes, attention will be on Hossam Hassan’s final choices in midfield — and, above all, the position he chooses for Mohamed Salah in Egypt’s first step toward the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.