The Pharaohs are coming to the World Cup with the Egyptian King in front. Mohamed Salah is one of the finest players in Premier League history, and at the 2026 World Cup he wants to show the whole planet what African football can do. He is no longer alone. Omar Marmoush has taken off at Manchester City after a big season at Eintracht Frankfurt, and suddenly Egypt have depth up front.
Hossam Hassan is the manager, Mohamed Elneny joins Salah and Marmoush among the key players, and Egypt sit around 36th in the FIFA ranking.
Two forwards, and the question behind them
Salah is a global star and one of the most lethal forwards the game has produced. Marmoush, who scored 20+ goals at Frankfurt, has become a sensation at City and a rising African name. Having two forwards of that level gives Egypt real firepower for the knockout rounds.
Under Hassan the team is disciplined and well organised, and hard to break down. AFCON experience helps as well: these players are used to high-pressure tournament football in hostile grounds.
Salah and Marmoush can score against any defence on the planet. What nobody knows yet is whether the rest of the squad can match them. If the defence holds and the two stars perform, Egypt could be the African side that breaks into the quarter-finals.
Tomorrow: number 20.
