Haitham Hassan out of South Africa clash: Egypt player recovers from injury

Egypt will play the match without Salah and Haitham Hassan

Hossam Hassan's technical staff have decided to rest Celtic's Haitham Hassan from the friendly against South Africa. The call came on the advice of the medical team, headed by Dr Mohamed Abou El Ela, with the player carrying an injury.

According to Egyptian newspaper "Al-Shorouk", the squad wrapped up Saturday evening's session at Cairo International Stadium as they prepare for the fixture that closes out their current camp.

Twenty-two players featured in the session. Ahmed Fattouh was back in collective training after completing his rehabilitation, having picked up a thigh bruise during the South Sudan match, a game Egypt won 5-0 in the second round of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Egypt face South Africa in a friendly at nine o'clock tomorrow evening, Sunday, at Cairo International Stadium.

Mohamed Salah will also sit out the clash. The star has returned to his Turkish club Trabzon amid reports of a dispute with the national team's technical staff after the Angola match.

Egypt opened this international break with a goalless home draw against Angola in their first 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, then followed it up with an emphatic 5-0 win away to South Sudan.