New Egypt head coach Ali Maher unveiled his first squad less than 24 hours after taking charge of The Pharaohs, recalling goalkeeper Mohamed El Shennawy and midfielder Mahmoud Hassan "Trézéguet" while handing forward Mahmoud Mamdouh a first senior international call-up.

A double header to open his reign

Maher's immediate task is a TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA 2027 qualifying double header against Malawi. Egypt host "The Flames" in Cairo on 13 November before travelling to Lilongwe for the reverse fixture four days later — Matchdays 3 and 4 of Group B.

The Pharaohs sit top of Group B on four points, earned from a goalless home draw with Angola and a commanding 5-0 win away to South Sudan. Malawi are third on three points, following a 2-1 home win over South Sudan and a subsequent 3-1 defeat to Angola.

Maher's background and appointment

A former forward for Egypt and Al Ahly, Maher has coached Pyramids, Al Masry, ENPPI, and Ceramica Cleopatra, among other clubs. He was appointed on Saturday following the dismissal of Hossam Hassan, who had guided Egypt to the last 16 of last summer's FIFA World Cup.

Star-studded attacking options

Captain Mohamed Salah leads the squad, alongside Omar Marmoush of Tottenham Hotspur, Celtic's Haitham Hassan, and Barcelona's Hamza Abdelkarim. Zamalek pair Mahmoud Hamdy and Mohamed Shehata earn recalls, as do Pyramids' Mahmoud Marei and Nasser Maher.

Mamdouh, a forward for Modern Sport, earns his debut after a remarkable start to the Egyptian Premier League season — eight goals in as many games put him at the top of the scoring charts.

Full squad

Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shennawy (Al Ahly), El Mahdy Soliman (Zamalek), Mostafa Shobeir (Al Ahly), Mohamed Alaa (Ceramica Cleopatra)

Defenders: Mahmoud Hamdy "El-Wensh" (Zamalek), Hossam Abdelmeguid (Ludogorets Razgrad, Bulgaria), Ramy Rabiaa (Al-Ain, UAE), Mohamed Abdelmonem (Nice, France), Mahmoud Marei (Pyramids), Mohamed Hany (Al Ahly), Karim Hafez (Pyramids), Ahmed Fattouh (Zamalek), Tarek Alaa (Zed FC)

Midfielders: Marwan Attia (Al Ahly), Mohannad Lasheen (Pyramids), Mahmoud Saber (Pyramids), Mohamed Shehata (Zamalek), Nasser Maher (Pyramids), Ibrahim Adel (Nordsjælland, Denmark), Mahmoud Hassan "Trézéguet" (Al-Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), Ahmed Sayed "Zizo" (Al Ahly), Haitham Hassan (Celtic, Scotland)

Forwards: Mohamed Salah (Trabzonspor, Turkey), Omar Marmoush (Tottenham Hotspur, England), Hamza Abdelkarim (Barcelona, Spain), Mahmoud Mamdouh (Modern Sport)