The Egyptian Football Association has received approval from Tanzania to play a friendly match during Egypt’s September international camp, as preparations continue for a busy period featuring two Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The proposed friendly is expected to take place in Cairo after Egypt complete their competitive fixtures against Angola and South Sudan.
Egypt’s September camp will be held during the international break from 21 September to 6 October, with the national side scheduled to begin its 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with two matches.
The Pharaohs will host Angola in Cairo on 25 September before travelling to Juba to face South Sudan four days later.
The Egyptian Football Association is now working to add a third fixture to the schedule, with Tanzania emerging as the leading candidate after giving its approval to face Egypt.
Tanzania gives approval for Egypt friendly
According to sources cited by Winwin, the Egyptian Football Association has received the green light from Tanzania for a friendly between the two national teams during the September camp.
The federation had been exploring several possibilities as it sought an opponent for a non-competitive fixture following Egypt’s two qualifying matches.
Tanzania was among the teams contacted by the Egyptian federation, alongside Rwanda and Ghana.
The discussions are part of efforts to give the Egypt squad another opportunity to prepare and assess players during the extended international window.
The proposed fixture would also allow the technical staff to make use of the camp after the completion of the two matches that will count towards qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
No final date for the Tanzania match was given in the information provided, but the fixture is expected to be played in Cairo.
Egypt face Angola before South Sudan trip
Egypt’s first competitive assignment of the camp will come against Angola on 25 September.
The match will be played in Cairo and represents the opening fixture of the Pharaohs’ campaign in Group B of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Egypt have been drawn alongside Angola, Malawi and South Sudan in the group.
Following the Angola game, the national team will travel to Juba, where South Sudan will host Egypt in the second round of qualifying on 29 September.
The return from Juba is expected to precede the proposed friendly in Cairo.
That schedule means Egypt could potentially play three matches during the September camp, with the Tanzania fixture providing an additional test after the two competitive encounters.
The Egyptian Football Association is therefore continuing its work to finalise the arrangements.
Ibrahim Hassan confirms friendly plans
The search for an additional opponent was revealed earlier by Ibrahim Hassan, the Egyptian national team’s director.
Hassan had said that efforts were under way to arrange a friendly match after the completion of Egypt’s two Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The latest development involving Tanzania represents progress towards fulfilling that plan.
The federation has also maintained contact with other African national teams, with Rwanda and Ghana among those approached about a possible friendly.
For Egypt, the additional match could provide the coaching staff with an opportunity to assess the squad beyond the competitive fixtures.
It would also extend the team’s activity during a long international window that runs until 6 October.
The proposed meeting with Tanzania is expected to be staged in Cairo, meaning Egypt would return home after their trip to South Sudan before completing the camp with the friendly.
The Pharaohs’ immediate priority, however, remains their qualifying campaign.
They will first have to overcome Angola in Cairo before making the journey to Juba for the encounter with South Sudan.
With Malawi also included in Group B, Egypt will be looking to make a strong start to their qualification campaign.
The Egyptian federation’s efforts to secure a friendly demonstrate its intention to maximise the September window, with Tanzania currently the team that has given the clearest indication of its willingness to face the Pharaohs.
Further arrangements will determine when the proposed match is played, but the fixture is expected to form the final part of Egypt’s September programme.
