The Egyptian national team will navigate their third-place Africa Cup of Nations fixture against Nigeria without the services of midfielder Marwan Attia and forward Salah Mohsen. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) issued immediate suspensions for both players following their actions after the Pharaohs’ 1-0 semifinal defeat to Senegal.
Attia drew a sanction for making a gesture that implied match officials received bribes, while Mohsen faced punishment for mocking members of the Senegalese media.
These disciplinary absences present a significant challenge for head coach Hossam Hassan, who must now reconfigure his lineup amid existing squad shortages. The seven-time African champions take on the Super Eagles at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca later today, seeking a bronze medal to conclude their campaign. Hassan previously expressed frustration over the team’s thinning options, as the loss of two key attackers and midfielders complicates his tactical plans for the high-profile encounter.
The match kicks off at 5:00 p.m. Nigerian time, with both teams eager to salvage pride after their respective semifinal disappointments. Nigeria enters the contest as a formidable opponent, having only lost on penalties to the host nation earlier in the week. This suspension forces the Egyptian technical bench to rely on bench depth as they attempt to overcome a motivated Super Eagles side in the tournament’s penultimate match.
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