Egypt is set to rest captain Mohamed Salah and forward Omar Marmoush for tonight’s pre-2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) friendly against Nigeria, according to reports.
Filgoal reports that head coach Hossam Hassan will leave the Premier League stars out of the match as part of Egypt’s preparations for the tournament in Morocco.
Salah and Marmoush joined their international teammates on Monday but were absent from the team’s training session, arriving at camp later than expected.
The Pharaohs’ coaching staff indicated that both players are expected to play key roles during the AFCON campaign, making it prudent to manage their workload ahead of the tournament.
Tonight’s friendly against the Super Eagles will kick off at 8pm local time (7pm in Nigeria), offering an opportunity for Egypt’s other squad members to impress and gain match fitness.
Hossam Hassan’s decision reflects a growing trend among African national teams to preserve the fitness of star players ahead of major tournaments, especially those involved in top European leagues.
Nigeria will look to test its squad and strategies against a full-strength Egyptian team in upcoming matches, despite the absence of Salah and Marmoush from tonight’s game.
