With AFCON Qualification Secured: Egypt’s National Team Prepares for Botswana with a Fresh Lineup

Egypt's head coach, Hossam Hassan, has opted to rest three essential players ahead of the team’s clash with Cape Verde on Friday in the fifth round of qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The Egyptian Football Association confirmed that Mahmoud Hassan "Trezeguet" and Marwan Attia will skip the game due to suspension, each having accumulated two yellow cards. In addition, Omar Marmoush will also stay behind, with all three players set to participate in Egypt’s final qualifier against Botswana on Tuesday at Cairo’s Air Defense Stadium.

The team will depart for Cape Verde on a lengthy ten-hour journey Wednesday evening. Despite their assured qualification, Egypt's national squad aims to close out the qualifiers strong, having secured their place in the 2025 AFCON in Morocco with a perfect record of 12 points across four matches in the group stage.