Egypt and Morocco prepare for AFCON 2027 qualifiers

African football teams are preparing for the next round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

In Egypt, Mohamed Salah has been rested for the upcoming match against South Sudan. Egypt's technical staff, led by Hossam Hassan, decided to protect the 34-year-old forward due to concerns regarding the artificial turf at Juba National Stadium. While the decision was intended to prevent injury, it has sparked debate regarding the team's internal atmosphere following a recent goalless draw with Angola. Osama Faisal has been called up to bolster the squad in Salah's absence.

Meanwhile, the Moroccan national team has arrived in Bloemfontein, South Africa, to prepare for their match against Lesotho. The squad is training to maintain their position at the top of Group A. While the team is preparing for the match, defender Nayef Aguerd remains in Morocco to continue his recovery program and is expected to be available for a friendly against Ghana in October. Ibrahim Diaz has also returned to group training, though his participation in the Lesotho match remains to be confirmed.