Osama Faisal joins Egypt squad as Salah sits out South Sudan qualifier

Egypt's football federation has called up Al Ahly Bank striker Osama Faisal after resting captain Mohamed Salah for the AFCON 2027 qualifier against South Sudan.

• The federation announced Faisal's inclusion in the camp ahead of the South Sudan qualifier and the friendly against South Africa.
• Salah was rested from the match over the artificial turf pitch.
• The delegation departs Cairo on Sunday for South Sudan, with the match scheduled for Tuesday.
• Egypt opened their qualifiers with a 0-0 draw against Angola at Cairo Stadium.
• Team manager Ibrahim Hassan said defender Mohamed Abdel Monem will miss the South Sudan trip after Nice's medical report warned against playing on artificial turf, the second player after Salah to sit out.
• The squad held its final training session on artificial turf at Air Defense Stadium with 23 players before departing for South Sudan.
• The Egyptian delegation arrived in South Sudan ahead of the Tuesday qualifier in Juba.
• Coach Hossam Hassan led the team in a recovery training session after the squad's arrival.
• The technical staff did not call up a replacement defender, leaving Rami Rabia, Hossam Abdel Meguid, and Omar Fayed as the only central defenders.
• Barcelona expressed concern about Hamza Abdel Karim featuring for Egypt in the South Sudan qualifier on artificial turf.
• Hamdy Fathy announced on Instagram that he successfully underwent nasal surgery after an injury ruled him out of Egypt's camp.
• Egypt won the only prior meeting with South Sudan 3-0, a friendly in June 2023, making Tuesday's qualifier their first competitive clash.