Manchester City winger Omar Marmoush has been left out of Egypt’s 24-man squad for the final rounds of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers after sustaining a knee injury during the Pharaohs’ clash against Burkina Faso in September.
The 26-year-old, one of Egypt’s most exciting attacking talents, suffered a ligament strain in his right knee, ruling him out of both international and club action for several weeks. Initial scans conducted in Cairo confirmed the severity of the injury, prompting Manchester City to recall him for further medical evaluation and a structured rehabilitation programme. The Premier League champions later confirmed that Marmoush would miss the upcoming Manchester derby, stressing that his recovery would not be rushed.
Head coach Hossam Hassan announced his 24-man squad earlier this week, with Marmoush’s absence standing out as the most significant omission. To fill the gap, Mostafa Fathy of Pyramids FC has been called up as the only new addition to the squad that featured against Burkina Faso in September.
Egypt’s football director Ibrahim Hassan revealed that several other key players are also sidelined due to injuries, including Emam Ashour, Mohamed Abdelmonem, Nabil Emad ‘Donga’, Mohamed Shehata, Salah Mohsen, and Mahmoud Zalaka. Despite these setbacks, the Pharaohs remain confident about sealing qualification for the World Cup.
Egypt currently lead Group A with 20 points, five clear of second-placed Burkina Faso. They will face Djibouti in Morocco on 8 October before hosting Guinea-Bissau in Cairo on 12 October. The team needs just one point from the two matches to confirm their place at the 2026 World Cup, marking another milestone under Hossam Hassan’s leadership.
Since making his senior debut in 2021, Marmoush has become an integral part of Egypt’s attacking setup, admired for his pace, creativity, and ability to unlock defences. His strong performances for Manchester City this season elevated his profile as one of Africa’s top forwards. His absence now places more attacking responsibility on Mohamed Salah and Trezeguet as Egypt aim to secure qualification and continue their impressive form on the road to the World Cup.
