The midfielder will be earning his 170th cap, allowing the 34-year-old, who has already won three Nations Cup titles and remains the driving force behind his team, to overtake compatriot and former team mate Hossam Hassan.
"It is a great honour for me to break the record. It has always been an honour to be called up and to wear the national jersey. I'm very happy and proud," he told Reuters in an interview in Benguela.
"That would be the game that was the turning point for me but I'm happy to have played a lot of matches and had a lot of highlights."
"That was exceedingly disappointing and was probably my last chance to go to the World Cup," Hassan lamented. "But to be a three time African champions is probably better than playing a single match at the World Cup."
Egypt play England at Wembley in March and European champions Spain in June and Hassan said: "As long as the national team needs me and as long as I can add something to the team, I will be available."
