In a strategic move to avoid any potential conflict in player call-ups, the Egyptian Football Association has initiated intensive coordination efforts between the coaching staffs of the senior national team, led by Hossam Hassan, and the local national team, supervised by Helmy Toulalan. This comes as part of the preparations for the busy training periods in September, October, and November, ahead of important upcoming international competitions for both teams.

A source inside the federation revealed there is a clear agreement to prioritize player selection for the senior national team in cases where both teams seek to call up the same players. Direct coordination is ongoing to finalize the squads in line with technical priorities and the requirements of upcoming tournaments.

Busy schedules and overlapping challenges
The local national team is preparing to compete in the Arab Cup scheduled in Qatar from December 1 to 18, aiming to showcase a new generation of local talents who will form the future backbone of Egyptian football. Meanwhile, the senior team is gearing up for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, running from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026—a crucial test of the coaching staff’s ambitions to restore the Pharaohs’ continental prestige.

High-level technical coordination
The coordination between the two coaching teams goes beyond just player lists; it includes devising a comprehensive plan to manage the physical and technical workload of shared players. This ensures balanced performance and protects players from fatigue under the heavy pressure imposed by the two tournaments’ schedules.

The source confirmed that the Football Association is committed to providing a fully supportive work environment for the coaching staffs, emphasizing backing the senior team—which holds priority in player selection during critical periods—while respecting the local team’s ambitions and technical vision focused on discovering new talents.

Egyptian fans place great hopes on the senior team’s performance in the Africa Cup of Nations, while the Arab Cup represents a golden opportunity to test the local team’s capabilities and build a long-term project, especially with Helmy Toulalan’s intention to integrate young players from the Premier League and the second division, securing a promising future for national football.