Egypt's National Team Raises Concerns for Al Ahly over Zizo's Involvement

Egypt's national football team faces a mounting injury crisis ahead of their third-place playoff match, with three key players ruled out after Friday's disappointing 2-0 loss to Uzbekistan in the Al Ain International Cup.

The Egyptian Football Association confirmed that Ahmed Sayed "Zizo" from Al Ahly, Hamdy Fathy from Qatar's Al Wakrah, and Salah Mohsen from Al Masry have all picked up injuries that will sideline them for Monday's match against Cape Verde in Abu Dhabi.

Zizo started against Uzbekistan but was forced off the pitch in the 59th minute with what team doctor Mohamed Abou El Ela diagnosed as tendon damage around the knee. Mohsen came on as a substitute nine minutes later but couldn't finish the tournament due to a hamstring injury. Fathy didn't even make it onto the field, struggling with a calf muscle problem.

The timing couldn't be worse for Egypt's coaching staff. The Pharaohs are already dealing with the disappointment of their loss to Uzbekistan, which knocked them out of contention for the tournament title. Now they'll have to reshape their lineup significantly for what should be a winnable match against Cape Verde.

These injuries highlight a broader concern for Egyptian football. With domestic league schedules packed tight and players shuttling between club and international duties, muscle injuries are becoming increasingly common. Zizo's knee problem is particularly worrying given his importance to both club and country.

The Al Ain tournament was supposed to be preparation for more serious competitions ahead. Instead, Egypt finds itself managing casualties and trying to salvage some pride against Cape Verde while Iran and Uzbekistan battle for the title.

Monday's third-place match will test Egypt's squad depth. The coaching staff will need to rely on fringe players to step up, but that might not be entirely bad news. Sometimes these situations create opportunities for new faces to prove themselves on the international stage.