Egypt players look on after Tunisia's Fakhreddine Ben Youssef scored during their Africa Cup of Nations group G qualifying soccer match in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2014 (Photo: AP)
The Egyptian national team started its closed training camp in Alexandria on Saturday morning ahead of Monday's friendly match against Malawi.
The Pharaohs are hosting the central African team amid their preparation for the 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
They will officially kick off their bid to reach the Gabon finals on 14 June against Tanzania.
On Thursday, Egypt's Argentian coach Hector Cuper put together a 20-man squad for the Malawi test, including eight foreign-based players.
Egypt, who have won seven AFCON trophies, have been drawn in Group G of the 2017 qualifiers along with Nigeria, Tanzania and Chad.
The Egyptian squad for the Malawi friendly will not include Ahly and Zamalek players who have continental commitments with their clubs, but are expected to be called on after the CAF Confederation Cup games.
Ahly and Zamalek are scheduled to play the second leg games of the CAF Confederation Cup round of 16 on seven June, one day before the Malawi match.
The Egyptian team has been out of action since November when they failed to qualify for the 2015 African Cup of Nations, under former coach Shawky Gharib.
They have only played a friendly match in March, weeks after Cuper’s appointment, defeating Equatorial Guinea 2-0.
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